The importance of early prevention and treatment of sepsis hasnever been greater. In the UK alone sepsis contributes to moredeaths than lung cancer, from bowel cancer and breast cancercombined, and approximately one third of patients who suffer fromsevere sepsis die. The ABC of Sepsis provides a much neededintroduction and an invaluable aid in the increasing efforts toreduce hospital infection and improve patient safety.
As growing numbers of junior medical staff experience emergencymedicine, critical care and acute medicine as part of theFoundation Programme, there is an increasing need to develop theskills required to treat severe sepsis. The editors are involvedwith the Survive Sepsis campaign - developed to improve therecognition, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis - and are perfectlyplaced to guide junior medics, GPs, specialist nurses, criticalcare nurses and primary care staff through this core aspect ofacute medicine.