Hatala R, Dinh T, Cook DJ. Once-daily aminoglycoside dosing in immunocompetent adults: A meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1996;124:717–725.

This meta-analysis article compares the mortality and toxicity of once-daily and standard regimens of aminoglycosides.  Results suggest that once-daily treatment may have advantages over standard dosing.

Clec'h C, Timsit JF, De Lassence A. Efficacy of adequate early antibiotic therapy in ventilator-associated pneumonia: Influence of disease severity. Intensive Care Medicine. 2004;30(7):1327-33.

This prospective clinical study suggests that for certain patients, inadequate antimicrobial therapy can lead to an increase in mortality. 

Opal SM, Garber GE, LaRosa SP, et al. Systemic host responses in severe sepsis analyzed by causative microorganism and treatment effects of drotrecogin alfa (activated). Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2003;37:50–58.

This study finds that recombinant human drotrecogin alfa (activated) (DrotAA), administered in combination with standard antimicrobial therapies, can improve survival rates for severe sepsis.

Brun-Buisson C, Doyon F, Carlet J. Bacteremia and severe sepsis in adults: A multicenter prospective survey in ICUs and wards of 24 hospitals. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 1996;154:617–624.

This prospective study examines the influence of infection source and type of microorganism on the risk and outcome of severe sepsis and bacteremia. 

Kollef MH, Sherman G, Ward S, et al. Inadequate antimicrobial treatment of infections: A risk factor for hospital mortality among critically ill patients. Chest. 1999;115:462–474.

This article explores the effect of inadequate antimicrobial therapy on hospital mortality.

Cohen J, Brun-Buisson C, Torres A, et al. Diagnosis of infection in sepsis: An evidence-based review. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32(Suppl):S466-94.

The Surving Sepsis Campaign diagnostic guidelines for sepsis.

Bochud PY, Bonten M, Marchetti O, et al. Antimicrobial therapy for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock: An evidence-based review. Critical Care Medicine. 2004;32(Suppl.):S495–S512.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines for antimicrobial therapy in severe sepsis.

Martin GS, Mannino DM, Eaton S, et al. The epidemiology of sepsis in the United States from 1979 through 2000. New England Journal of Medicine. 2003;348:1546–1554.

This article details a 21-year retrospective study of sepsis epidemiology.

Crowe M, Ispahani P, Humphreys H, et al. Bacteraemia in the adult intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in Nottingham, UK, 1985–1996. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 1998;17:377–384.

This study examines the incidence, type, source, and outcome of community-acquired and hospital-acquired bacteremia, and issues and recommendations for future monitoring. 

Groeneveld AB, Bossink AW, van Mierlo GJ, et al. Circulating inflammatory mediators in patients with fever: Predicting bloodstream infection. Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology. 2001;8:1189–1195.

This study found that circulating inflammatory mediators, together with clinical signs and symptoms of microbial infection, may predict positive blood cultures before culture results are available.