Classification of an International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference for Sepsis Syndromes in Pediatric Patients

Categories of sepsis:

(1) sepsis

(2) severe sepsis

(3) septic shock

Parameters:

(1) infection

(2) systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS)

(3) organ dysfunction

Criteria for infection:

(1) suspected or proven infection caused by any pathogen

(2) clinical syndrome with a high probability of infection

Clinical evidence of infection may include:

(1) laboratory evidence: culture, tissue stain, PCR, especially for a normally sterile site

(2) clinical exam (petechial or purpuric rash, perforated viscus)

(3) imaging study (chest X-ray consistent with pneumonia)