title: Current management of sepsis in critically ill adult patients.
abstract: Severe sepsis is a common occurrence in critically ill patients and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in this population. Management relies on the early identification and treatment of the underlying causative infection, adequate and rapid hemodynamic resuscitation, support of associated organ failure and modulation of the immune response with drotrecogin alfa (activated) when it is not contraindicated, and corticosteroids in severe septic shock. We will review current approaches to each of these categories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care, Erasme Hospital, Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium. jlvincen@ulb.ac.be
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Elena Carrasco
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Aikaterina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dimoula
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016638:Critical Illness; D005440:Fluid Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011486:Protein C / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000379:methods*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011486:Protein C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014667:Vasopressins; C421124:drotrecogin alfa activated