The results of ATIII treatment in this population of patients suggests that replacement therapy reduces mortality in the subgroup of septic shock patients only.

Normalization of blood glucose metabolism and improvement of blood pressure control obtained with KP transplant is associated with positive effects on survival, cardiovascular death rate, and left ventricular function.

Adding specific data on infections and risk factors to a well-established electronic data collection system is a reliable basis for a continuous multicenter infection surveillance program in the ICU. Given the well-established importance of infection prevention programs, our data suggest that the improvement of the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock is the key to lower infection-related mortality in the ICU. This calls for closer attention to severe infections in surveillance programs.