Diagnostic criteria and treatment protocol for post-burn sepsis

Diagnostic criteria Preliminary diagnosis of post-burn sepsis can be made if six out of the fi rst 11 criteria below are met. Th is preliminary diagnosis can be confi rmed if any one aspect described in the last criterion is met. Th e diagnostic criteria are: (1) mental excitement, hallu cinations, disorientation or depression; (2) abdominal distension, diminished bowel sound; (3) rapidly deteriorated burn wounds, exhibited as wet, dark and/or deepened wounds with necrotic spots, and so forth; (4) core temperature >39.0°C or <36.5°C; (5) increased heart rate – adults >130 times/minute, children of all ages >2 standard deviations of normal value; (6) increased respiratory rate – adults >28 times/minute (without mechanical ventilation), children of all ages >2 standard deviations of normal value; (7) thrombocytopenia – adults <50 × 109/l, children of all ages <2 standard deviations of normal value; (8) peripheral white blood cell count – adults >15 × 109/l or <5 × 109/l, in which neutrophil percentage >80% or immature granulocytes >10%, children of all ages >2 or <2 standard deviations of normal value; (9) blood procalcitonin >0.5 μg/l; (10) blood sodium levels >155 mmol/l; (11) blood glucose >14 mmol/l (no history of diabetes); and (12) positive blood culture or positive response to antibiotic therapy.