What are the effects of corticosteroids on mortality among children and adults with sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can cause multiorgan dysfunction, and it has a substantial impact on health care internationally. Sepsis and septic shock affect millions of people around the world and result in very high mortality rates.1 The World Health Organization estimates that more than 30 million people develop sepsis each year, with an estimated mortality rate of 6 million.2 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 1.7 million patients develop sepsis each year in the United States, and of those, approximately 270 000 die as a result.3
An abnormal systemic response to infection causes sepsis; septic shock occurs in a subset of patients with sepsis and is associated with a higher risk of mortality.1 Success in treating sepsis requires early intervention and appropriate management with antibiotics,...