Annals of emergency medicine
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Sepsis and septic shock are among the most frequent life-threatening infectious disease problems encountered in emergency medicine practice. This review summarizes the extensive research into the pathophysiology of sepsis, with emphasis on Gram-negative infection. ⋯ It also critically evaluates new preparations developed to blunt the actions of the exogenous and endogenous mediators responsible for the clinical manifestations comprising this syndrome. Clinical signs likely to be associated with Gram-negative infection are also reviewed, and guidelines are considered for the potential use of newly developed anti-endotoxin antibodies and other biological response modifiers in the treatment of patients with Gram-negative sepsis.