[Septicemia. Generalities on its diagnosis]

Considerations are made regarding the etiopathogenesis of septicemia and related factors in the patients and in the environment that favor the generalization of infections. Several clinical aspects, together with the frequency and distribution of infectious focuses in 128 patients with septicemia are evaluated. Considerations are made on clinical and laboratory findings that led to the diagnosis of septicemia and the current state of the investigation at our Hospital de Pediatría del Centro Médico Nacional, IMSS is discussed. A system of points is proposed giving values to the clinical and laboratory findings in order to establish the diagnosis of septicemia. The modern literature on the subject is reviewed.