EXPLODING BACTERIAMed Decision Speed Tools
ED Decision Tools

SOFA — Sequential Organ Failure Assessment

Quantifies organ dysfunction across six systems — score it serially, because a rising SOFA predicts mortality better than any single value.

Minimal dysfunction
SOFA 0–1 · <10% mortality
Respiration — PaO₂/FiO₂ (mmHg)
Coagulation — Platelets (×10³/µL)
Liver — Bilirubin (mg/dL)
Cardiovascular
CNS — Glasgow Coma Scale
Renal — Creatinine (mg/dL) or urine output
Vincent JL, et al. 1996 · Sepsis-3 (2016): sepsis = suspected infection + a SOFA increase ≥2 from baseline. That word matters — a CKD patient who always runs a creatinine of 3.0 scores no renal change unless it rises from their baseline.