systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
Last reviewed 11/2022
Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)
- defined as 2 or more of the following variables:
- fever of more than 38°C (100.4°F) or less than 36°C (96.8°F)
- heart rate of more than 90 beats per minute
- respiratory rate of more than 20 breaths per minute or arterial carbon
dioxide tension (PaCO 2) of less than 32 mm Hg
- abnormal white blood cell count (>12,000/µL or < 4,000/µL or >10% immature [band] forms)
- fever of more than 38°C (100.4°F) or less than 36°C (96.8°F)
SIRS is nonspecific
- not always related to infection - can be caused by ischaemia, inflammation, trauma, infection, or several insults combined