Abstract
In the previous issue of Critical Care, Blanco and colleagues contributed to a growing body of literature on the international epidemiology of severe sepsis. Taken together, these studies confirm that the sepsis incidence is high, that the development of organ dysfunction is a major determinant of mortality and that the occurrence of organ dysfunction is influenced by chronic comorbid medical conditions. It is clear that early detection of organ dysfunction and serial sequential organ dysfunction scoring provides us with the best chance to optimize clinical care. Identifying factors that contribute to the development of organ dysfunction in sepsis will lead to the development of new treatment modalities that will reduce mortality. Future studies must therefore focus on the impact of new treatment modalities for preventing progression to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and consequent mortality in sepsis.
Highlights
The sepsis syndrome is a disease entity of universal impact
In the previous issue of Critical Care, Blanco and colleagues added to our knowledge from their prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study, evaluating the epidemiology of severe sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) in Spain [1]
The current study found an incidence of severe sepsis of 12.4%, which is similar to previous ICU-based sepsis cohort studies [5]
Summary
The sepsis syndrome is a disease entity of universal impact. Many studies have reported on the epidemiology of sepsis, and from these findings we are constantly informed that sepsis is a disease that deserves attention. In the previous issue of Critical Care, Blanco and colleagues added to our knowledge from their prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study, evaluating the epidemiology of severe sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) in Spain [1]. The current study found an incidence of severe sepsis of 12.4%, which is similar to previous ICU-based sepsis cohort studies [5].
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