Severe sepsis and septic shock remain the leading causes of in-hospital mortality [1]. These clinical conditions are the second leading causes of death in noncoronary intensive care units and among the top 10 causes of death in the United States [2]. It has been estimated that every year in the United States, 750 000 patients are hospitalized with a diagnosis of sepsis, and approximately 200 000 of these cases will be fatal [3]. In addition to human loss, the economic drain of these conditions places them among the major health issues in this country with an estimated annual costs of $16 billion [3].
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