[Infection or SIRS--the problem of definition]

Despite the knowledge about sepsis for many years, the definition of sepsis is contested more than ever since the early 90th. Therefore, the comparability of many clinical investigations and scientific work in the past is still impaired. To define the entrance criteria for further clinical studies, in 1991 a consensus conference was held in the USA, but its recommendations have not found unequivocal acceptance. Therefore, these recommendations are presented and their meaning will be discussed.