[Treatment of infection in intensive care patients]

A basic prerequisite of successful treatment of sepsis in intensive care patients is early recognition. Aside from the classic clinical signs of infection, minute changes in volume demand, respiratory need, kidney function and cardiovascular regulation may indicate a septic complication. The surgical/mech. elimination of septic foci is still the paramount therapeutic principle. Volume and respiratory therapy, hemofiltration, cardiovascular and antibiotic medication may add to the standard procedure of intensive care. Contact site inhibitors, mediator antagonists, and antibodies targeted against endotoxin, bacteria or leukocyte surface antigens are either still controversial or undergoing preclinical evaluation.