[Septic shock--a condition with great potential for improvement. Management and therapy]

There is a recent focus upon treatment of septic shock, related to the publication of a number of interesting studies during the last two years. These studies indicate that patient outcome can be improved, provided care is organized so as to optimize and expedite initial treatment of the patient in septic shock. In parallel, new drugs have been launched using rather aggressive marketing, which calls for recommendations and advice from professional experts who are independent of the pharmaceutical industry. This article reviews the studies that have engendered a new optimism in the treatment of septic shock. These "new" therapies are presented in a total context with a temporal perspective. It is suggested that emergency sepsis teams be instituted at hospitals.