Adult patients with suspected infection can be quickly screened for likelihood of having poor outcomes typical of sepsis if they have at least 2 of the following 3 clinical criteria:

1. Respiratory rate of 22/minute or greater
2. Altered mentation
3. Systolic blood pressure of 100 mmHg or less.

These together constitute a bedside clinical score termed quick SOFA (qSOFA). Infection-induced organ dysfunction may be occult; therefore, all patients with infection should be carefully evaluated. Conversely, any unexplained acute onset of organ dysfunction should also raise the possibility of an underlying infection.