prev next front |1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14 |15 |16 |17 |18 |19 |20 |21 |22 |23 |24 |review

The relationship between infection and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome, as first described by Bone et al (1992).

As the diagram illustrates both infection and SIRS can occur independently. However, when infection precipitates a SIRS response, this is defined as SEPSIS. 

The term sepsis represents a spectrum of illness, from an uncomplicated septic episode to severe sepsis (with associated dysfunction of one of more vital organs) and septic shock (organ dysfunction and hypotension). The associated mortality is dependent on the severity and ranges from less than 20% to greater than 60%. Septicaemia is the previous term for this spectrum but is now considered too imprecise (Hinds and Watson, 2008).