[Infection and sepsis in resuscitation].

Perhaps no area of medicine has advanced as dramatically and rapidly as the one dedicated to the knowledge of infections and sepsis. In the last decade, there has been a virtual explosion of new information in the area, including, among others, the discovering of new antibiotics of broad spectre and important sighting into the mechanisms of cardiovascular dysfunction, several sepsis-induced new cytokines and inflammatory mediators, as well as the role of the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in the pathophysiology of sepsis. These advances have provided further expectations in reduction of morbidity and mortality from sepsis, that have not still been confirmed on different phase III clinical trials with immunologic therapies. That have seen undertaken and reported the aim of this issue is reviewing the current concepts and definitions, pathophysiology, prophylaxis, and therapeutic approaches in infection and sepsis.