Sepsis 3 Criteria

Sepsis-3 Criteria: Official consensus definition. Requires suspected infection + acute organ dysfunction (SOFA rise ≥2).

Diagnostic Triage

Core Sepsis Requirement

Septic Shock Add-ons

Guidelines & Evidence

Clinical Details

Section 1

When to Use

Definition of Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

When to Use

Clinical diagnosis of sepsis in hospitalized patients

Applying standardized definitions for research and clinical documentation

Determining the need for aggressive fluid resuscitation and bundle compliance

Section 2

Formula & Logic

Sepsis (Screening/Diagnosis)

Suspected or confirmed infection

Acute change in total SOFA score ≥ 2 points (representing about a 10% mortality risk)

Septic Shock (Advanced Diagnosis)

Sepsic criteria met AND

Need for vasopressors to maintain MAP ≥ 65 mmHg AND

Serum lactate level > 2 mmol/L (18 mg/dL) despite adequate fluid resuscitation

Section 3

Evidence Appraisal

Reference

The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3).

Singer M et al. • JAMA.. 2016;315(8):801-10. This revised definition eliminated "severe sepsis" and emphasized organ dysfunction.

Last Comprehensive Review: 2026

Related Infectious Disease Tools

Parapneumonic PH Management

PCP Prophylaxis

PENS Score

Peritonsillar Abscess Score

PID Severity Classification

Pitt Bacteremia Score

PrEP Candidacy

Procalcitonin Stop Rule

PSI PORT Score

q SOFA

Have feedback about this calculator?Let us know.

Sepsis 3 Criteria

Sepsis-3 Criteria: Official consensus definition. Requires suspected infection + acute organ dysfunction (SOFA rise ≥2).

Diagnostic Triage

Core Sepsis Requirement

Septic Shock Add-ons

Guidelines & Evidence

Clinical Details

Section 1

When to Use

Definition of Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection.

When to Use

Clinical diagnosis of sepsis in hospitalized patients

Applying standardized definitions for research and clinical documentation

Determining the need for aggressive fluid resuscitation and bundle compliance

Section 2

Formula & Logic

Sepsis (Screening/Diagnosis)

Suspected or confirmed infection

Acute change in total SOFA score ≥ 2 points (representing about a 10% mortality risk)

Septic Shock (Advanced Diagnosis)

Sepsic criteria met AND

Need for vasopressors to maintain MAP ≥ 65 mmHg AND

Serum lactate level > 2 mmol/L (18 mg/dL) despite adequate fluid resuscitation

Section 3

Evidence Appraisal

Reference

The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3).

Singer M et al. • JAMA.. 2016;315(8):801-10. This revised definition eliminated "severe sepsis" and emphasized organ dysfunction.

Last Comprehensive Review: 2026

Related Infectious Disease Tools

Parapneumonic PH Management

PCP Prophylaxis

PENS Score

Peritonsillar Abscess Score

PID Severity Classification

Pitt Bacteremia Score

PrEP Candidacy

Procalcitonin Stop Rule

PSI PORT Score

q SOFA

Have feedback about this calculator?Let us know.