Sepsis

Description

Sepsis is a multi-factorial disease process and this volume provides comprehensive and in-depth reviews of both the basic science and more practical aspects of patient management. These include detailed information on the epidemiology and genetics of sepsis as well as the metabolic and cardiovascular responses to infection. Infectious disease, in relation to sepsis, is well covered including chapters on unusual/exotic infections, control of infection and the rational use of antibiotics. Haematological aspects of sepsis are also reviewed in detail. Further chapters focus on the currently controversial areas of clinical trial design in sepsis and protocol-driven care. A specific chapter, with illustrated cases, draws practical lessons and offers useful management "tips". The patient with sepsis provides a major challenge to the hospital acute team and septic shock is the commonest cause of admission to General Critical Care Units in the industrialised world. The incidence of sepsis is also increasing, in part due to the more complex patient case mix which is a feature of modern hospital practice. This volume is useful to both trainees in Critical Care and Anaesthesia as well as Infectious Disease and General Medical trainees. It also provides qualified practitioners in these fields with a comprehensive resource on sepsis-related topics.