Zhou SX, Qiu HB, Huang YZ, et al. Effects of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine-dobutamine on systemic and gastric mucosal oxygenation in septic shock. Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. 2002;23:654–658.

This study compares norepinephrine, epinephrine, and the combination of norepinephrine and dobutamine as treatments during septic shock.

Levy B, Bollaert FE, Charpentier C, et al. Comparison of norepinephrine and dobutamine to epinephrine for hemodynamics, lactate metabolism, and gastric tonometric variables in septic shock. Intensive Care Medicine. 1997;23:282–287.

Study comparing the effectiveness of epinephrine and norepinephrine-dobutamine in dopamine-resistant septic shock.

Rhodes A, Bennett ED. Early goal-directed therapy: An evidence-based review. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32(Suppl.):S448–S450.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign's recommendations on early goal-directed therapy.

Reinhart K, Kuhn HJ, Hartog C, et al. Continuous central venous and pulmonary artery oxygen saturation monitoring in the critically ill. Intensive Care Medicine. 2004;30:1572–1578.

This study finds that continuous measurement of central venous oxygen saturation can promote early detection of downturns in critically ill patients' oxygen supply/demand ratio.

Cook D, Guyatt G. Colloid use for fluid resuscitation: Evidence and spin. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2001;135:205–208.

This editorial article reviews and discusses use of colloids in fluid resuscitation.

Choi PTL, Yip G, Quinonez LG, et al. Crystalloids vs. colloids in fluid resuscitation: A systematic review. Critical Care Medicine. 1999;27:200–210.

This review article compares effects of fluid resuscation with isotonic crystalloids versus colloids, and finds no apparent difference in several indicators of outcome. 

Finfer S, Bellomo R, Boyce N, et al. A comparison of albumin and saline for fluid resuscitation in the intensive care unit. New England Journal of Medicine. 2004;350:2247–2256.

This comparison of fluids used in resuscitation of patients suffering from severe sepsis finds that both 4 percent albumin and normal saline yield similar patient outcomes at 28 days.

Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, Eds. Specific chapter Authors: Amsden GW, Ballow CH, Bertino JS. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. Fifth Edition.
Philadelphia, PA, USA; Churchill Livingstone; 2000:253-261

This chapter from a comprehensive infectious disease text explores the role of pharmacokinetics in designing appropriate antimicrobial therapies.

Hyatt JM, McKinnon PS, Zimmer GS, et al. The importance of pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic surrogate markers to outcome. Focus on antibacterial agents. Clinical Pharmacokinetics. 1995;28:143–160.

This article suggests that models incorporating pharmacokinetics can help physicians select the most appropriate antimicrobial agent.

Ali MZ, Goetz MB. A meta-analysis of the relative efficacy and toxicity of single daily dosing versus multiple daily dosing of aminoglycosides. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 1997;24:796–809.

This meta-analysis compares once-daily aminoglycoside dosing and standard therapy models, and suggests that once-daily dosing may be preferable. However, this effect may be limited only to those patients who also receive other antimicrobial treatments.