OBJECTIVES: to evaluate the SOFA score, qSOFA, SIRS criteria, and risk factors for hospital mortality in burn victims with suspected infection admitted to an intensive care unit. METHODS: a retrospective longitudinal study conducted at a public hospital between January 2017 and January 2020. We analyzed sepsis diagnostic scores at two time points: hospital admission and date of infection. RESULTS: of the 279 patients analyzed, 251 developed an infection. Among these, 145 had a positive SIRS score at the time of the burn, and 112 remained positive at the first documented infection. The SOFA score increased in 187 patients following the burn injury, and 34 remained positive at the time of infection. CONCLUSIONS: the scores on the dates of burn injury and infection did not show variations in SIRS or SOFA compatible with sepsis diagnosis. Age, total body surface area burned, and SOFA score were independent risk factors for mortality.