Systemic inflammatory response syndrome

In medicine, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is an inflammatory stateof the whole body (the "system").

Definition of SIRS

SIRS can be diagnosed if two or more of the following are present^{[{{fullurl:Template:FULLPAGENAME}}#endnote_Sharma][{{fullurl:Template:FULLPAGENAME}}#endnote_Tslotou]}:

• Heart rate> 90 beats per minute
• Body temperature < 36 or > 38°C
• Hyperventilation(high respiratory rate) > 20 breaths per minute or, on blood gas, a P_aCO₂ less than 32 mm Hg
• White blood cellcount < 4000 cells/mm³ or > 12000 cells/mm³ (< 4 x 10⁹ or > 12 x 10⁹ cells/L).

Difference between SIRS and sepsis

SIRS with a proven source of infection^{[{{fullurl:Template:FULLPAGENAME}}#endnote_Tslotou]}, such as a positive blood culture, is known as sepsis. The contrary, sepsis without a proven source of infection is not always SIRS (as the criteria for sepsis are slightly more broad).

Causes of SIRS

• Severe trauma
• Surgical operations
• Burns
• Acute pancreatitis

References

1. ^  Sharma S, Steven M. Septic Shock. eMedicine.com, URL: http://www.emedicine.com/MED/topic2101.htmAccessed on Nov 20, 2005.
2. ^  Tslotou AG, Sakorafas GH, Anagnostopoulos G, Bramis J. Septic shock; current pathogenetic concepts from a clinical perspective. Med Sci Monit. 2005 Mar;11(3):RA76-85. PMID 15735579Full Text.
3. ^  Ibid.

See also

• Sepsis
• Septic shock

External link

• Bacteremia and Septic Shock(Merck Manual) - explains the usage of the terms bacteremia, septic shock, sepsis and septicemia.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systemic+inflammatory+response+syndrome Wikipedia article Systemic inflammatory response syndrome.