Can we predict sepsis?

The study of sepsis and attempts to advance knowledge have been hampered by a lack of standardisation of definition, the result of continual changes in understanding of sepsis pathophysiology. The modern definition arises from the criteria for the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). This syndrome involves organ dysfunction; association with infection (suspected or documented) is separate. Components included poor perfusion leading to organ dysfunction, tachycardia, tachypnoea, and hypo- or hyperthermia. Later, SIRS was acknowledged as a ‘systemic activation of the innate immune response, regardless of the cause’ and therefore not specific to sepsis ...