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SIRS criteria

Also called systemic inflammatory response syndrome, SIRS

ACCP/SCCM 1992 criteria for the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (2 or more of 4).

SIRS criteria met

0 / 4

SIRS
Absent

Fewer than 2 criteria: SIRS absent.

Formula and scoring

SIRS = 2 or more of: T > 38 or < 36 °C; HR > 90; RR > 20 or PaCO₂ < 32 mmHg; WBC > 12 000 or < 4000/mm³ or > 10% immature forms.

Exam and ward pearls

  • Sepsis-1 (1992) = SIRS + infection; Sepsis-3 (2016) dropped SIRS for being non-specific.

When not to rely on it

  • Sepsis-3 cites inadequate sensitivity and specificity of SIRS for sepsis.

Source

  1. Bone RC, Balk RA, Cerra FB, et al. Definitions for sepsis and organ failure and guidelines for the use of innovative therapies in sepsis. The ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference Committee. Chest. 1992;101(6):1644-55. doi:10.1378/chest.101.6.1644 · PMID 1303622
  2. Singer M, Deutschman CS, Seymour CW, et al. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA. 2016;315(8):801-10. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.0287 · PMID 26903338

Formula and cut-offs checked against these sources on 8 Nov 2026. Educational tool for clinicians; it does not replace clinical judgement.

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