The Sepsis Text

Up to 14 percent of all patients admitted to intensive care units are affected by sepsis. When sepsis becomes severe and progresses to septic shock, multiple-organ dysfunction aggravates and prolongs the critical illness, necessitating a lengthy intensive care stay, and dramatically increases the risk of death. Although our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the evolution from infection to sepsis and multiple-organ failure has evolved substantially, mortality rates remain as high as 50 percent, depending on the definition of sepsis that is used. With the associated morbidity, the economic burden of sepsis also remains high. Novel therapies have been introduced, but many of the "magic bullets" have failed to improve the outcome.