Aims To discuss the incidence, outcome and predisposing factors to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis, and multiple organ failure. Methods A qualitative review of the literature. Results Case definitions of sepsis and severe sepsis, though clarified recently, are still arbitrary. It seems, however, that SIRS is not useful in identifying severe sepsis while organ failure has become a cornerstone for this definition. Incidence of severe sepsis appears to be approximately 10% of all ICU admissions, totaling nearly one million cases annually in the U.S. alone, and rising. Mortality associated with these events is still high, especially among ICU patients. Recent studies have been demonstrating an association between a variety of genetic polymorphisms and progression to and dying from sepsis. Conclusion Recently there has been an increasing amount of information enabling characterization of the epidemiology of sepsis, which may help to direct appropriate care in the coming years.

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