The Cardiovascular
ToolsCalculators

Phoenix Sepsis Score

2024 organ-dysfunction criteria for paediatric sepsis.

Phoenix Sepsis Score
Respiratory
Vasoactive medications
Lactate
Scores 0 if <5, 1 if 5-10.9, 2 if >=11 mmol/L.
mmol/L
Mean arterial pressure for age
Points by age (0/1/2): <1mo >=31 / 17-30 / <17; 1-11mo >=39 / 25-38 / <25; 1yr >=44 / 31-43 / <31; 2-4yr >=45 / 32-44 / <32; 5-11yr >=49 / 36-48 / <36; 12-17yr >=52 / 38-51 / <38 mmHg.
Platelets <100 x10^3/uL
INR >1.3
D-dimer >2 mg/L FEU
Fibrinogen <100 mg/dL
Neurological
Result0 points

Below the sepsis threshold (Phoenix score <2).

Total (0-13)
0
Respiratory
0
Cardiovascular
0
Coagulation
0
Neurological
0

When to use

  • Identifying sepsis and septic shock in children with suspected infection using organ-dysfunction criteria.

Formula

Sum of respiratory (0-3), cardiovascular (0-6: vasoactives + lactate + MAP), coagulation (0-2, 1 point each capped at 2), and neurological (0-2). Sepsis = suspected infection + total >=2; septic shock = sepsis + cardiovascular >=1.

Pearls and pitfalls

  • The score is applied only to children with suspected or confirmed infection.
  • Coagulation contributes at most 2 points even if 3 or 4 sub-criteria are met.

References

  1. Schlapbach LJ, Watson RS, Sorce LR, et al. International consensus criteria for pediatric sepsis and septic shock (Phoenix). JAMA. 2024;331(8):665-74.
  2. Sanchez-Pinto LN, et al. Development and validation of the Phoenix criteria. JAMA. 2024;331(8):675-86.