For a patient suspected of having sepsis, which vital sign criteria is NOT considered?

In assessing a patient for sepsis, vital sign criteria are crucial indicators of the body’s response to infection. Temperature greater than 100.4°F, respiratory rate greater than 20, and body temperature less than 96°F all reflect potential abnormal physiological responses consistent with sepsis.

The correct choice shows that a heart rate less than 90 beats per minute is not considered a criterion for identifying sepsis severity. In fact, tachycardia, or an elevated heart rate above 90 bpm, is more indicative of the body working to compensate for an infection. A heart rate below this threshold could imply stability or even a lack of systemic response to infection. Therefore, a heart rate under 90 bpm does not align with the common criteria for assessing sepsis and does not raise concern for septic shock, making it the outlier in this context.