The original article that used these criteria was in 1987,  Chest 92:1032-36 
(first author Roger Bone) titled “Early Methylpredisolone treatment for Septic 
Syndrome and the ARDS”. It was this article that first defied the septic 
syndrome and in that paper > 38.3 C was used because it translated closest to 
101 F.

In 1989 in Critical Care Medicine 17:389-93 a second paper was published titled 
“Sepsis Syndrome: A valid clinical entity” again with Bone as first author. The 
temperature criteria was “Rectal Temperature > 101 F or < 96 F” which 
translated to 38.3 C

In the “Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of 
Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012 published in Crit Care Med February 2013  
41:580-637 the temperature criteria remains > 38.3 C.  The 2004 and 2008 
versions were also 38.3 C

I do not know where the 38.0 comes from it is likely if the temperature is not 
a core temperature to compensate for the use of oral or auxiliary temps. In my 
mind the correct answer remains the same since 1987 – 38.3 C

Some days it pays to be old, I was co-author on all these papers and can even 
vaguely remember all the debates we had concerning the criteria.

Terry P. Clemmer, MD
Director: Critical Care Medicine
LDS Hospital
Professor of Medicine
University of Utah School of Medicine
Salt Lake City, Utan 84143

Work Phone: 801-408-3661
Work Fax: 801-408-1668

From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron Daniels
Sent: Friday, February 21, 2014 3:44 PM
To: Seckel, Maureen
Cc: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [Sepsis Groups] SIRS criteria

38: Bone, 1992. 38.3: Levy, 2001.

Same consensus group, 10 years, different lead authors. 38.3 is current.

R
Dr Ron Daniels
Chair: UK Sepsis Trust
CEO: Global Sepsis Alliance

Sent on the move from my iPhone, excuse brevity!

On 19 Feb 2014, at 15:40, "Seckel, Maureen" 
<[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> wrote:
Simple question.

Why is SIRS criteria for Temperature written as 38 degrees for high in some 
articles and medical calculators and 38.3 in others.  Which really is it?

The SS Campaign guidelines and data base uses 38.3.

Thanks,


Maureen A. Seckel, APN, ACNS-BC, CCNS, CCRN
CNS Medical Pulmonary Critical Care
Sepsis Coordinator
Christiana Care Health System
4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road
3E29
Newark, DE 19718
Office 302 733-6023





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