Bernard GR, Macias WL, Joyce DE, et al. Safety assessment of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in the treatment of adult patients with severe sepsis. Critical Care. 2003;7:155–163.

This study finds that drotrecogin alfa (activated) decreases mortality during severe sepsis.  In addition, the findings of this study confirm existing figures on the safety and efficacy of this treatment.

Angus DC, Linde-Zwirbie WT, Clermont G, et al. Cost-effectiveness of drotrecogin alfa (activated) in the treatment of severe sepsis. Critical Care Medicine. 2003;31:1–11.

This article assesses the cost-effectiveness of drotrecogin alfa (activated) and evaluates it against the backdrop of healthcare strategies at large.

Manns BJ, Lee H, Doig CJ, et al. An economic evaluation of activated protein C treatment for severe sepsis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2002;347:993–999.

This article analyzes the cost-effectiveness of activated protein C for treatment of severe sepsis.

Laterre PF, Levy H, Balk D, et al. The effects of drotrecogin alfa (activated) on hospital mortality, length of stay and discharge location. Chest. 2002;122:51S.

This article describes the effects of drotrecogin alfa on various treatment outcome criteria.

Angus DC, Laterre PF, Elterbrand J, et al. The effect of drotrecogin alfa (activated) on long-term survival after severe sepsis. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32(11):2199-2206.

This article reports that patients who receive drotrecogin alfa (activated) therapy during severe sepsis have increased survival rates through hospital discharge, though the benefit does not persist past discharge.

Vincent JL, Angus DC, Aetigas A, et al. Effects of drotrecogin alfa (activated) on organ dysfunction in the PROWESS trial. Critical Care Medicine. 2003;31(3):834–840.

This study finds that drotrecogin alfa (activated) therapy significantly improves organ function in severe sepsis.

Ely EW, Laterre PF, Angus DC, et al. Drotrecogin alfa (activated) administration across clinically important subgroups of patients with severe sepsis. Critical Care Medicine. 2003;31(1):12–19.

This article finds that administering drotrecogin alfa (activated) during severe sepsis can increase survival rates.  This survival benefit increases with higher predicted risk of death.  The increase in risk of bleeding associated with drotrecogin alfa does not vary according to risk of death.

Dellinger RP, Carlet JM, Masur H, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for management of severe sepsis and septic shock. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32(3):858-873.

Clinical practice guideline from the Society of Critical Care Medicine on the care of critically ill patients with sepsis. Includes guidance on stress ulcer prophylaxis and prophylactic anticoagulation.

See the 2008 Guidelines Update.

Annane D, Bellissant E, Bollaert PE, et al. Corticosteroids for treating severe sepsis and septic shock. Cochrane Database Systematic Review. 2004;1:CD002243.

This systematic review looks at the use of corticosteroids in sepsis and septic shock.

Chawla K, Kupfer Y, Goldman I, et al. Hydrocortisone reverses refractory septic shock. Critical Care Medicine. 1999;27(1S):33A.

This article examines hydrocortisone as a treatment for refractory shock.