Which factor is NOT typically included in the criteria for diagnosing sepsis?

Fever, while commonly associated with sepsis, does not meet the requirement of being sufficient on its own for a diagnosis. The criteria for diagnosing sepsis involve a combination of symptoms and clinical indicators, and fever can occur in various conditions that do not necessarily fulfill the full clinical picture of sepsis.

In contrast, altered mental status, increased heart rate, and leukocytosis are all significant indicators that can suggest sepsis. These factors reflect a broader systemic response to infection; altered mental status can indicate inadequate cerebral perfusion or metabolic derangement, increased heart rate may signify an attempt to maintain perfusion, and leukocytosis indicates an immune response to infection. The presence of these symptoms, alongside other clinical findings, is essential for the diagnosis of sepsis, making them critical components of the diagnostic criteria.