New strategies in nonantibiotic treatment of gram-negative sepsis.

Gram-negative bacterial infections are difficult to control and often lead to septic shock or septic syndrome. Many physiologic changes in sepsis are due to bacterial triggering of host responses. Improved understanding of these mechanisms has led to new treatment modalities that aim to block the runaway inflammatory process of sepsis. New therapeutic agents are currently being evaluated in animal and human studies. By combining these advances with adequate antibiotic therapy, it may be possible to improve overall survival in patients with gram-negative sepsis.