Let me try to set the stage for this symposium. We will be discussing new treatments for sepsis. In 1992 a landmark publication appeared, which attempted to create some definitions that would bring order to the field of sepsis research (American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine 1992). At this time the concept of a tiered approach to diagnosing systemic inflammation, sepsis and severe sepsis was developed. The notion was that the combination of the cardinal signs of inflammation and infection constituted sepsis. If organ dysfunction is layered on this mix, the condition is now severe sepsis, and if arterial hypotension is included in the mix, this condition is septic shock.
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