Biomarkers for Severe Sepsis

Severe sepsis, defined as systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) plus acute organ dysfunction, accounts for more than 215,000 deaths per year in the U.S. Researchers posited that objective diagnostic tests are needed to help clinicians predict which patients with SIRS will develop severe sepsis. In an industry-sponsored, prospective, observational study, the researchers sought to identify a panel of biomarkers that would predict organ dysfunction in 971 patients with SIRS at 10 academic emergency departments.

Eligible patients were adults with suspected infection or serum lactate level >2.5 mmol/L and at least two of four criteria for SIRS: temperature <36°C or >38°C, respirations >20 per minute or arterial CO₂ <32 mm Hg, heart rate …