Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Steven D Burdette, MD, FIDSA; Chief Editor: Michael R Pinsky, MD, CM, FCCP, FCCM   more...
 
Updated: Apr 11, 2012
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) include the following:

  • Abdominal abscess
  • Diverticulitis
  • Electrical injuries
  • Erythema multiforme (Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
  • Gas gangrene
  • Posttransplantation infections
  • Infective endocarditis
  • Influenza
  • Intestinal perforation
  • Meningitis
  • Meningococcemia
  • Multisystem organ failure of sepsis
  • Myocardial Infarction
  • Nosocomial pneumonia
  • Acute pancreatitis[4]
  • Perioperative pulmonary management
  • Community-acquired pneumonia[3]
  • Pseudomembranous colitis
  • Pulmonary embolism
  • Acute pyelonephritis
  • Respiratory failure
  • Bacterial sepsis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Septic shock
  • Toxic epidermal necrolysis
  • Toxic shock syndrome
  • Transfusion reactions
  • Upper gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Female urinary tract infection
  • Male urinary tract infection
  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Chemical aspiration
  • Cutaneous adverse drug reaction
  • Dehydration
  • Medication effects
  • Pulmonary contusions
  • Substance abuse - Stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamines
  • Surgical procedures
  • Viral infections

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Steven D Burdette, MD, FIDSA  Associate Professor of Medicine, Program Director, Infectious Diseases Fellowship, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine; Infectious Disease Advisor to Transplant Program, Miami Valley Hospital; Medical Director of Infectious Diseases, Green Memorial Hospital

Steven D Burdette, MD, FIDSA is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Transplantation, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Transplantation Society

Disclosure: Cubist Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genentech Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Merck Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Optimer Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Coauthor(s)

Miguel A Parilo, MD, FACP  Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine; Medical Director, The Bull Family Diabetes Center

Disclosure: Sanofi-Aventis Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Amylin Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Lewis J Kaplan, MD, FACS, FCCM, FCCP  Director, SICU and Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Section of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Surgical Emergencies, Yale University School of Medicine

Lewis J Kaplan, MD, FACS, FCCM, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American College of Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, Association for Surgical Education, Connecticut State Medical Society, Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, International Trauma Anesthesia and Critical Care Society, Society for the Advancement of Blood Management, Society of Critical Care Medicine, and Surgical Infection Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP  Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Pulmonary Physiology Laboratory; Director of Research in Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Thoracic Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Joseph F John Jr, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA  Clinical Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine; Associate Chief of Staff for Education, Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Michael R Pinsky, MD, CM, FCCP, FCCM  Professor of Critical Care Medicine, Bioengineering, Cardiovascular Disease and Anesthesiology, Vice-Chair of Academic Affairs, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Michael R Pinsky, MD, CM, FCCP, FCCM is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Critical Care Medicine, American Heart Association, American Thoracic Society, Association of University Anesthetists, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, Shock Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: LiDCO Ltd Honoraria Consulting; iNTELOMED Intellectual property rights Board membership; Edwards Lifesciences Honoraria Consulting; Applied Physiology, Ltd Honoraria Consulting; Cheetah Medical Consulting fee Consulting

Additional Contributors

Heatherlee Bailey, MD Assistant Program Director, Assistant Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Critical Care, Medical College of Pennsylvania Hahnemann University

Heatherlee Bailey, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, Association for Surgical Education, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Joseph F John Jr, MD, FACP, FIDSA, FSHEA Clinical Professor of Medicine, Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine; Associate Chief of Staff for Education, Ralph H Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine; Medical Director, Pulmonary Physiology Laboratory; Director of Research in Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital

Klaus-Dieter Lessnau, MD, FCCP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Thoracic Society, and Society of Critical Care Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

References

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Venn diagram showing overlap of infection, bacteremia, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and multiorgan dysfunction.
 
 
 
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