Evolving Concepts in Sepsis and Septic Shock / Edition 1

by Peter Q. Eichacker, Jïrïme Pugin

Overview

Much research over the past 30 to 40 years has shown that the inflammatory response, while critical for host defense during microbial infection, may itself play a central role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Although key mediators responsible for this injury have been identified, efforts clinically to augment our conventional antimicrobial and supportive therapies during sepsis with agents modulating the inflammatory response have been unsuccessful. As a result, the mortality associated with this lethal syndrome, especially when complicated by shock, has remained persistently high. Unfortunately, during this same period of time, the incidence of sepsis has accelerated as other fields of medicine have relied increasingly on therapies that predispose to infection.
While frustrating, overall this experience in the field of sepsis has not been without value. Most importantly, it has helped define on several different levels the complexity of the septic patient. Recognizing and addressing this complexity as discussed by each of the contributors to Evolving Concepts in Sepsis and Septic Shock may now provide new inroads into the treatment of sepsis.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780792372356
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	12/31/2000
Series:	Perspectives on Critical Care Infectious Diseases , #2
Edition description:	2001
Pages:	195
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Eichacker, Peter Q. , MD; Pugin, Jerome, MD

Table of Contents

1. Sepsis Definitions.- 2. Definitions: Sepsis vs. SIRS.- 3. Toll-like Receptors.- 4. Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF): A Pro-inflammatory Mediator of Sepsis.- 5. Genetic Susceptibility to Infection and Sepsis.- 6. Impact of Genomic Variation on Inflammatory Processes and Sepsis.- 7. Corticosteroids in Sepsis.- 8. The Bidirectional Effect of Inflammation on Bacterial Growth: A New Insight into the Role of Glucocorticoids in the Resolution of Severe Infections.- 9. Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Sepsis.- 10. Perspectives in Anti-Inflammatory Therapies in Sepsis.- 11. Immunostimulation in Sepsis.- 12. Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor as a Therapy for Pneumonia and Sepsis in the Nonneutropenic Host: Preclinical and Clinical Trials.

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: David Dries, MSE, MD (Regions Hospital)
Description: This book, part of the Perspectives on Critical Care: Infectious Diseases series, covers the conceptual and therapeutic advances in the management of severe infections.
Purpose: Insight into interesting and potentially useful developments in the field of sepsis are provided.
Audience: Investigators and teachers with an interest in infection and its multiple manifestations are an appropriate audience for this work. Contributors represent an international group of authorities involved in clinical and preclinical trials of new sepsis strategies.
Features: The initial theme discussed is the difficulty surrounding identification of patients warranting intervention for sepsis. The susceptibility to sepsis and the genetics of recently described receptor systems is then covered. The final group of chapters describe a number of investigational therapies for sepsis including corticosteroids, antiinflammatory therapies, and immunostimulants including granulocyte colony stimulating factor. Chapters are clearly written and abundantly referenced with citations dating to within one year of publication. For the most part, citations represent original work. There are no illustrations and only a small number of line drawings and tables. The table of contents provides chapter title and authorship. A subject index of six pages concludes. Twelve chapters are included in the approximately 200 pages of this attractive book.
Assessment: This book provides a concise update on many of the treatment strategies at the center of contemporary clinical trials in sepsis. Presentations on the new genetics of infection and the continuing question of the role of steroids in sepsis are particularly helpful. The continuing problems of antiinflammatory trials in sepsis are also discussed.

Doody's Review Service

Reviewer: David J. Dries, MD(University of Minnesota Medical School)
Description: This book, part of the Perspectives on Critical Care: Infectious Diseases series, covers the conceptual and therapeutic advances in the management of severe infections.
Purpose: Insight into interesting and potentially useful developments in the field of sepsis are provided.
Audience: Investigators and teachers with an interest in infection and its multiple manifestations are an appropriate audience for this work. Contributors represent an international group of authorities involved in clinical and preclinical trials of new sepsis strategies.
Features: The initial theme discussed is the difficulty surrounding identification of patients warranting intervention for sepsis. The susceptibility to sepsis and the genetics of recently described receptor systems is then covered. The final group of chapters describe a number of investigational therapies for sepsis including corticosteroids, antiinflammatory therapies, and immunostimulants including granulocyte colony stimulating factor. Chapters are clearly written and abundantly referenced with citations dating to within one year of publication. For the most part, citations represent original work. There are no illustrations and only a small number of line drawings and tables. The table of contents provides chapter title and authorship. A subject index of six pages concludes. Twelve chapters are included in the approximately 200 pages of this attractive book.
Assessment: This book provides a concise update on many of the treatment strategies at the center of contemporary clinical trials in sepsis. Presentations on the new genetics of infection and the continuing question of the role of steroids in sepsis are particularly helpful. The continuing problems of antiinflammatory trials in sepsis are also discussed.