Harrisons 271: Severe sepsis & septic shock

Question 1

Cardinal signs of SIRS

Answer 1

1) Fever or hypothermia
2) Leukocytosis or leukopenia
3) Tachypnea
4) Tachycardia

Question 2

When infection is suspected or proved, the SIRS patient officially has…

Answer 2

Sepsis! Congratulations?

Question 3

When the sepsis patient has signs of dysfunction in organs not directly involved in the infection, they have…

Answer 3

SEVERE sepsis. Uh-oh.

Question 4

When the hypotensive severe sepsis patient can’t be stabilized by adding fluid volume, they now have…

Answer 4

septic shock. Things just got real.

Question 5

Bacteremia

Answer 5

Bacteria in the blood; positive blood cultures

Question 6

Septicemia

Answer 6

Microbes or their toxins in the blood

Question 7

SIRS

Answer 7

2 or more of the following:

1) Fever (oral temp > 38º) or hypothermia ( < 36º)
2) tachypnea ( >24 breaths/min)
3) tachycardia ( >90 bpm)
4) leukocytosis ( >12,000) or leukopenia ( 10% bands

May have non-infectious etiology

Question 8

Sepsis

Answer 8

SIRS with a microbial etiology