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qSOFA calculator online: rapid sepsis screening outside ICU

Quick bedside assessment of poor outcome risk in suspected infection: 3 criteria – respiratory rate ≥22/min, systolic BP ≤100 mmHg, altered mentation (GCS <15). 2+ points indicate high risk of septic shock and death.

About this calculator

qSOFA (quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) is a screening score introduced in Sepsis-3 (Singer et al., JAMA 2016) for rapid identification of infected patients at high risk of poor outcomes outside the ICU. It requires no laboratory data and is scored in 30 seconds at the bedside. Three criteria, 1 point each: respiratory rate ≥22/min, systolic BP ≤100 mmHg, altered mentation (GCS <15). A score of 2+ increases in-hospital mortality or prolonged ICU stay risk 3- to 14-fold compared with qSOFA <2. Used in the emergency department, prehospital care, and general wards. qSOFA does not diagnose sepsis – it is a triage tool: a score ≥2 warrants detailed assessment (full SOFA with labs), blood cultures, empiric antibiotics within the first hour, and fluid resuscitation. In ICU patients qSOFA has lower sensitivity than SOFA and SIRS – full SOFA is preferred. The score is less sensitive in elderly patients with chronic hypotension, neurodegenerative disease with reduced baseline GCS, and patients on beta-blockers with masked tachycardia. False positives occur in COPD, severe heart failure, and anxiety-depressive disorders.

Source

Singer M, Deutschman CS, Seymour CW, et al. The Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). JAMA. 2016;315(8):801-810.

Formula version: sepsis-3-2016-v1

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