Infection,a documented or suspected, and some of the following:

General variables

Fever (core temperature > 38.3˚C)

Hypothermia (core temperature < 36˚C)

Heart rate > 90 min−1 or >2 SD above the normal value for age

Tachypnea

Altered mental status

Significant edema or positive fluid balance (>20 ml/kg over 24 hrs)

Hyperglycemia (plasma glucose > 120 mg/dl or 7.7 mmol/L) in the absence of diabetes

Inflammatory variables

Leukocytosis (WBC count > 12000 μL−1)

Leukopenia (WBC count < 4000 μL−1)

Normal WBC count with > 10% immature forms

Plasma CRP > 2SD above the normal value

Plasma PCT > 2SD above the normal value

Hemodynamic variables

Arterial hypotension (SBP < 90 mmHg, MAP < 70 mmHg, or an SBP decrease > 40 mmHg in adults or 2 SD below normal for age)

Svo2 >70%

Cardiac index >3.5 L∙min−1∙M−2

Organ dysfunction variables

Arterial hypoxemia (PaO2/FiO2 < 300)

Acute oliguria (urine output < 0.5 ml∙kg−1∙hr−1 or 45 mmol/L for at least 2 hrs)

Creatinine increase > 0.5 mg/dL

Coagulation abnormalities (INR > 1.5 or aPTT > 60 secs)

Ileus (absent bowel sounds)

Thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100,000μL−1)

Hyperbilirubinemia (plasma total bilirubin > 4 mg/dL or 70 mmol/L)

Tissue perfusion variables

Hyperlactatemia (>1 mmol/L)

Decreases capillary refill or mottling