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🔥 Burn Sepsis Screening (ABA 2007)

UseUse in the burn ICU to flag possible sepsis: ≥ 3 of the 6 triggers together with a confirmed or suspected inf…

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SourceGreenhalgh DG, et al. American Burn Association consensus conference to define sepsis and infection…

Runs locally in your browser (no PHI uploaded). For licensed clinicians — not a substitute for clinical judgement.
Stored on this device for revisit reminders

This-shift next steps

After scoring: open the scene pack, peer scores, and the matching pathway. Local reference — no HIS write.

Score + version; reference only — not a substitute for care · no HIS write

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Methodology · worked example, guidelines & full notes
Clinical takeaway

Because post-burn hypermetabolism mimics SIRS, the ABA created burn-specific triggers rather than relying on generic sepsis criteria; the final call remains a prospective team decision. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)

When to use

Use in the burn ICU to flag possible sepsis: ≥ 3 of the 6 triggers together with a confirmed or suspected infection prompts a sepsis workup and treatment.

How it works

Six triggers (temperature, progressive tachycardia, progressive tachypnea, thrombocytopenia after ≥ 3 days, hyperglycemia, enteral feeding intolerance). Sepsis = ≥ 3 triggers AND confirmed/suspected infection.

Key points

  • Because post-burn hypermetabolism mimics SIRS, the ABA created burn-specific triggers rather than relying on generic sepsis criteria; the final call remains a prospective team decision. (original synthesis · not guideline verbatim)
  • Thrombocytopenia is counted only after ≥ 3 days of resuscitation, when early dilutional changes have settled.
  • The triggers correlate only modestly with bacteremia, so a positive screen prompts a source search rather than confirming infection.

References

Worked calculation

The values below come from this tool's own example placeholders and are computed server-side with the formula shown on this page, so the arithmetic can be checked quickly. It demonstrates how to substitute values only — it is not clinical advice and not a real case.

Temperature > 39°C or < 36.5°CNo
Progressive tachycardia > 110 bpmNo
Progressive tachypnea (non-ventilated > 25/min or ventilated minute ventilation > 12 L/min)No
thrombocytopenia/µL (after ≥ 3 days of resuscitation)No
Hyperglycemia (non-diabetic: untreated glucose > 200 mg/dL or insulin ≥ 7 U/h or > 25%/24h increase in requirement)No
Enteral feeding intolerance > 24 h (distension/residual 2× feeding rate/diarrhea > 2500 mL/d)No
Confirmed or suspected infection presentNo

→Triggers met0/6

  • Decision:< 3 triggers, continue monitoring, beware that post-burn hypermetabolism can mask infection
  • Note:Severe burns are themselves a systemic inflammatory state, so traditional SIRS/sepsis criteria are unreliable; the ABA therefore created burn-specific triggers. This standard correlates only modestly with bacteremia, so the final judgment is a prospective clinical decision by the burn team
  • Basis:Greenhalgh DG, et al. ABA Consensus to Define Sepsis and Infection in Burns. J Burn Care Res 2007
Temperature > 39°C or < 36.5°CYes
Progressive tachycardia > 110 bpmYes
Progressive tachypnea (non-ventilated > 25/min or ventilated minute ventilation > 12 L/min)Yes
thrombocytopenia/µL (after ≥ 3 days of resuscitation)Yes
Hyperglycemia (non-diabetic: untreated glucose > 200 mg/dL or insulin ≥ 7 U/h or > 25%/24h increase in requirement)Yes
Enteral feeding intolerance > 24 h (distension/residual 2× feeding rate/diarrhea > 2500 mL/d)Yes
Confirmed or suspected infection presentYes

→Triggers met6/6

  • Decision:≥ 3 triggers AND confirmed/suspected infection → meets ABA burn sepsis; start sepsis workup and treatment (find the source, obtain cultures, empiric antimicrobials, resuscitation)
  • Note:Severe burns are themselves a systemic inflammatory state, so traditional SIRS/sepsis criteria are unreliable; the ABA therefore created burn-specific triggers. This standard correlates only modestly with bacteremia, so the final judgment is a prospective clinical decision by the burn team
  • Basis:Greenhalgh DG, et al. ABA Consensus to Define Sepsis and Infection in Burns. J Burn Care Res 2007
Verification & sources · governance
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What are the limits and cautions when using Burn Sepsis Screening (ABA 2007)?
For licensed clinicians and clinical researchers. Interpret results with history, investigations and local protocols; not a diagnosis or prescription, and not a substitute for multidisciplinary decision-making or local guidelines.
Does Burn Sepsis Screening (ABA 2007) upload patient data? Where is it calculated?
Calculation runs locally in the browser; inputs and results are not uploaded. For licensed clinicians only; interpret with history, investigations and local protocols — not a diagnosis or prescription.
How is Burn Sepsis Screening (ABA 2007) calculated in practice? Can you show a worked example?
Inputs: Temperature > 39°C or < 36.5°C No, Progressive tachycardia > 110 bpm No, Progressive tachypnea (non-ventilated > 25/min or ventilated minute ventilation > 12 L/min) No, thrombocytopenia/µL (after ≥ 3 days of resuscitation) No, Hyperglycemia (non-diabetic: untreated glucose > 200 mg/dL or insulin ≥ 7 U/h or > 25%/24h increase in requirement) No, Enteral feeding intolerance > 24 h (distension/residual 2× feeding rate/diarrhea > 2500 mL/d) No, Confirmed or suspected infection present No → Result: Triggers met 0/6(Decision: < 3 triggers, continue monitoring, beware that post-burn hypermetabolism can mask infection, Note: Severe burns are themselves a systemic inflammatory state, so traditional SIRS/sepsis criteria are unreliable; the ABA therefore created burn-specific triggers. This standard correlates only modestly with bacteremia, so the final judgment is a prospective clinical decision by the burn team, Basis: Greenhalgh DG, et al. ABA Consensus to Define Sepsis and Infection in Burns. J Burn Care Res 2007) Inputs: Temperature > 39°C or < 36.5°C Yes, Progressive tachycardia > 110 bpm Yes, Progressive tachypnea (non-ventilated > 25/min or ventilated minute ventilation > 12 L/min) Yes, thrombocytopenia/µL (after ≥ 3 days of resuscitation) Yes, Hyperglycemia (non-diabetic: untreated glucose > 200 mg/dL or insulin ≥ 7 U/h or > 25%/24h increase in requirement) Yes, Enteral feeding intolerance > 24 h (distension/residual 2× feeding rate/diarrhea > 2500 mL/d) Yes, Confirmed or suspected infection present Yes → Result: Triggers met 6/6(Decision: ≥ 3 triggers AND confirmed/suspected infection → meets ABA burn sepsis; start sepsis workup and treatment (find the source, obtain cultures, empiric antimicrobials, resuscitation), Note: Severe burns are themselves a systemic inflammatory state, so traditional SIRS/sepsis criteria are unreliable; the ABA therefore created burn-specific triggers. This standard correlates only modestly with bacteremia, so the final judgment is a prospective clinical decision by the burn team, Basis: Greenhalgh DG, et al. ABA Consensus to Define Sepsis and Infection in Burns. J Burn Care Res 2007)
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