INTRODUCTION
The incidence of sepsis is increasing worldwide, due to ageing
populations, increased disease survival, and greater recognition
of the condition. The true incidence is unknown, but
may range between 0.4 to 2.4 cases per 1000 people^ making
it a leading cause of critical illness worldwide.3 Sepsis mortality
rates have been very high - up to 80 per cent for septic shock2
- but recent data suggest the overall mortality rate is falling.
Mortality rates for severe sepsis in Australia and New Zealand fell
from 35 percent in 2000 to 18 per cent in 2012.4