I. Definition/Prognosis.- Sepsis and Septic Shock: Update on Definitions.- Clinical Manifestations and Prognostic Indicators in Sepsis.- What Determines Prognosis in Sepsis? Evidence for a Comprehensive Individual Patient Risk Assessment Approach to the Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials.- A Scoring System for Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome.- II. Pathogenesis.- Endotoxemia and Sepsis: Important Roles for Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein and CD14 in Endotoxin Signal Transduction.- Bacterial Exotoxins and Sepsis.- Bacterial Translocation: Myth versus Reality.- Tumor Necrosis Factor and Other Cytokines in Septic Syndrome.- Role of Oxygen Free Radicals in the Pathophysiology of Sepsis.- III. Pathophysiology.- Cardiocirculation in Sepsis.- A Current View of Oxygen Supply Dependency.- Sepsis and Nutritional Blood Flow.- Endothelial Cell Function in the Critically Ill.- Sepsis and Cellular Metabolism.- IV. Monitoring.- Monitoring of O2 Transport and Tissue Oxygenation in Septic Shock.- V. Therapy.- Sepsis-Related Problems in Pediatric Patients.- Definitions and Therapy of Sepsis.- Role of Surgical Intervention in the Prevention and Therapy of Sepsis.- Antibacterial Treatment of Sepsis.- Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach in Invasive Fungal Infections of Intensive Care Unit Patients.- Fluid Therapy in Sepsis.- Influence of Catecholamines on Regional Perfusion and Tissue Oxygenation in Septic Shock Patients.- Metabolic Changes in Sepsis Can the Host Response be Influenced Metabolically?.- VI. New Therapeutic Approaches.- Is there a Place for Monoclonal Antibodies Against Endotoxin in the Therapy of Sepsis?.- Endotoxin in Septic Shock.- Tumour Necrosis Factor as a Therapeutic Target in Sepsis.- Tumor Necrosis Factor-Neutralization with a Specific Monoclonal Antibody.- Cardiovascular Effects of Repeated Administration of the F(ab)2 Fragment of an Anti-tumor Necrosis Factor-? Monoclonal Antibody in Patients with Severe Sepsis.- Modulating Effects of Pentoxifyllinl#+