Quote:
Originally Posted by Patriot007
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome or SIRS is a syndrome characterized by at least 2 out of 4 criteria.
1. Temperature- greater than 38 (100.4 F )or less than 36 (96.8 F)
2. Heart Rate- greater than 90
3. Respirations- greater than 20
4. White Blood cell count- less than 40000 or greater than 12,000
SEPSIS- is SIRS criteria (atleast 2 of 4) plus a presumed source of infection.
Therefore- A septic patient can be hypothermic, normothermic, or hyperthermic.
Blood pressure is not a criteria to define sepsis. In fact, early in sepsis in healthy individuals blood pressure is usually normal. They are still compensating well enough to maintain a normal BP. Also you can have elevated lactate ( an indication of inadequate tissue perfusion or SHOCK) with a normal blood pressure.
When you have sepsis plus low blood pressure that is not responsive to fluid boluses alone you have SEPTIC SHOCK.
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If Sepsis is at least 2 of the 4 criteria listed above, one of which is unavailable to a first responder, then from an EMTs POV its at least 2 of the three (WBCs not available) So, what conditions that an EMT responds to do not meet conditions 2&3 above? (Other than dead ones and opiod alcohol poisoning.
) Should these be Dx as Sepsis? As a DDx tool for first responders - I think this is of very limited value.
Just my $0.02 worth.