全身性感染的定义自1992年发布以来，经过2001年的更新，其内容在这二十多年间并没有实质性调整。基于最新的大样本临床数据分析，全身性感染新定义特别小组重新定义了全身性感染，并提出了新的临床诊断标准。然而新定义中特别强调的器官功能障碍却成为其自相矛盾的根源；将全身性感染相关性器官功能衰竭评分（sepsis related organ failure assessment，SOFA）作为新的诊断标准也面临着与全身炎症反应综合征（systemic inflammatory response syndrome，SIRS）标准相同的问题；全身性感染中真正难以解决的问题仍然存在。因此，在对全身性感染的病理生理机制尚未有重大突破性进展时，就轻易改变现有的定义/临床标准框架，并没有太多实质性的意义。

The definition of sepsis has remained largely unchanged for the last twenty years since its release in 1992 and update in 2001. Sepsis-3 task force has recently redefined sepsis and published new clinical diagnostic criteria based on the latest analysis of large clinical database. However, organ dysfunction, which has been defined as nature of sepsis, is self-contradictory. The SOFA criteria is facing the same problem with SIRS criteria. Tough problems are still existing with sepsis. It is not wise to change the present definition/clinical criteria framework when we are not wise enough to make a major breakthrough in the pathophysiology of sepsis.