- sepsis (defined as a positively cultured or clinically diagnosed infection with at least three of the following: a body temperature of greater than or equal to 38 degrees C [greater than or equal to 100.4 degrees F] or less than or equal to 36 degrees C [less than or equal to 96.8 degrees F], a heart rate of greater than or equal to 90 beats/min, tachypnea manifested by a respiratory rate of greater than or equal to 20 breaths/min, or hyperventilation as indicated by a PaCO2 of less than or equal to 32 mm Hg, and a white blood cell count of greater than or equal to 12,000 cells/mm3 or less than or equal to 4,000 cells/mm3, or the presence of >10% bands)