Intensive care treatment in septic shock.

Deaths in septic shock continue to occur at a high frequency despite current treatment programs. However, the mortality can be substantially decreased with a close bedside attendance of patients at risk and if the patient is transferred to an intensive care unit for intensive treatment and monitoring as soon as shock is suspected or established. The treatment program consists of adequate antibiotic administration in combination with massive doses of steroids and aggressive infusion therapy supplemented with cardiovascular drugs according to the hemodynamic response to the initial treatment.