Dellinger RP, Levy MM, Carlet JM, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock: 2008. Intensive Care Medicine. 2008 Jan;34(1):17-60. Epub 2007 Dec 4.

This article provides an update to the original Surviving Sepsis Campaign clinical management guidelines, "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock," published in 2004. The updates are based on strong agreement among a large cohort of international experts regarding recommendations for the best current care of patients with severe sepsis.

Raising the bar with bundles: Treating patients with an all-or-nothing standard. Joint Commission Perspectives on Patient Safety. 2006 Apr;6(4):5-6.

A "bundle" is a collection of processes needed to effectively and safely care for patients undergoing particular treatments with inherent risks. Several interventions are "bundled" together and, when combined, significantly improve patient care outcomes. This article describes the Ventilator Bundle, Central Line Bundle, and Sepsis Bundles developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and others, and explains how organizations can improve clinical outcomes by using care bundles.

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Perla D, Marmorston J. Suprarenal cortical hormone and salt in the treatment of pneumonia and other severe infections. Endocrinology. 1940;27:367–374.

This article explores the effectiveness of suprarenal cortical hormone and salt as treatments for severe infection. Note: article abstract not available online.

Sevransky JE, Levy MM, Marini JJ. Mechanical ventilation in sepsis-induced acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome: An evidence-based review. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32[Suppl.]:S548–S553.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign's guidelines for management of mechanical ventilation during severe sepsis.

Laffey JG, et al. Therapeutic hypercapnia reduces pulmonary and systemic injury following in vivo lung reperfusion. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2000;162:2287–2294.

This study's findings identify therapeutic hypercapnia as a potential therapy to reduce acute lung injury in critical care.

Tasker RC, Peters MJ. Combined lung injury, meningitis and cerebral edema: How permissive can hypercapnia be? Intensive Care Medicine. 1998;24:616–619.

This case study describes the management of hypercapnia.

Bidani A, Cardenas VJ, Zwischenberger JB. Permissive hypercapnia in acute respiratory failure. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1994;272:957–962.

This study examines the use of pressure limitation with permissive hypercapnia.

Hickling KG, Henderson S, Jackson R. Low mortality rate in adult respiratory distress syndrome using low-volume, pressure-limited ventilation with permissive hypercapnia: A prospective study. Critical Care Medicine. 1994;22:1568–1578.

This study suggests that using low tidal volumes with permissive hypercapnia to limit peak inspiratory pressure and reduce regional lung overdistension can decrease the incidence of ventilator-induced lung injury.

Cariou A, Vinsonneau C, Dhainaut JF. Adjunctive therapies in sepsis: An evidence-based review. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32(Suppl.):S562–S570.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign's guidelines for use of adjunctive therapies to treat severe sepsis.

Van den Berghe G, Wouters PJ, Bouillon R, et al. Outcome benefit of intensive insulin therapy in the critically ill: Insulin dose versus glycemic control. Critical Care Medicine. 2003;31(2):359–366.

This article identifies metabolic control as the strongest contributor to the improved outcomes associated with intensive insulin therapy.