Mearelli et al reported a model for predicting sepsis in a patient presenting to the Emergency Department. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from the University of Trieste, Eastern Piedmont University, University of Brescia, University "Sapienza" of Rome, General Hospital of Susa and the University of Turin.
Patient selection: Emergency Department with SIRS
Parameters:
(1) age in years, from 0 to 110 years
(2) SOFA score from 0 to 14
(3) antibacterial therapy within the past 30 days
(4) hyperthermia (fever, > 38°C))
(5) leukocytosis (> 12,000 per µL)
(6) serum CRP in mg/dL
points for age =
= 0.909090 * (age)
points for SOFA score =
= 4.5 * (SOFA)
Parameters
Findings
Points
antibacterial therapy in last 30 days
no
0
yes
13
hyperthermia
no
0
yes
40
leukocytosis
no
0
yes
10.2
serum CRP
<= 21.75 mg/dL
0
> 21.75 mg/dL
37
total score =
= SUM(points for all 6 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum score: 0
• maximum score: 263.2
• The higher the score the greater the risk of sepsis.
