Evolving Definition and Diagnostic Criteria of Sepsis

Abstract

For many years, the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) criteria were primarily considered for the diagnosis of sepsis, promoting the importance of inflammation. The definition and dia        gnostic criteria of sepsis has undergone a sizeable metamorphosis from the inception of standardized definitions of sepsis in 1991. In 1991, the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) convened in Chicago and emphasized that sepsis is an ‘ongoing process’ of infection and considered SIRS score of two or more for diagnosis of sepsis. SOFA scoring system is an easily calculated system using parameters that are usually obtained during routine care of patients. This ensures that delays are avoided from requirement of any special investigations, making it reproducible in any number of healthcare settings.