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Minerva Anestesiologica 2006 March;72(3):87-96

Copyright © 2006 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

Sepsis diagnosis and management: work in progress

Vincent J. L., Habib A. M., Verdant C., Bruhn A.

Deparment of Intensive Care, Erasme Hospital Free University of Brussels, Brussels, Belgium

Severe sepsis is a common disease process in the critically ill and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Continuing research has provided considerable insight into the pathophysiology of sepsis over recent years, enabling various aspects of the sepsis response to be targeted. Discoveries related to the link between coagulation and inflammation have been particularly exciting, leading to the development of recombinant activated protein C. This review will discuss current definitions of sepsis, describe new approaches to classification and diagnosis of patients with sepsis, present recommendations for management, and briefly highlight areas of ongoing and future research.