D-E-L-I-R-I-U-M acronym. letters in the D-E-L-I-R-I-U-M acronym stand for: D - Dementia; E - Electrolyte disorders; L - Lung, liver, heart, kidney, brain; I - Infection; R - Rx drugs; I - Injury, pain, stress; U - unfamiliar environment; M - Metabolic. Delirium is an acute malfunction of attention and global cognition and is treatable, though the diagnosis is often missed.