Providing definitions, clinical features and epidemiology, this handbook and reference adopts a comprehensive approach, describing in detail the various physiological systems involved. As such, it is the first to combine sepsis and non-infectious SIRS, reviewing both the biological and medical aspects of these two important syndromes. The whole is rounded off with a discussion of past, present and future therapies.

Jean-Marc Cavaillon is head of the department Infection and Epidemiology at Institut Pasteur in Paris, France. Having obtained his academic degrees from Paris University, he spent most of his career working at Institut Pasteur. There, he has been director of the General Immunolgy course, scientific director of Euroconferences, and is head of the research unit Cytokines and Inflammation. Cavaillon has authored 117 scientific publications, 92 reviews and chapters, and a book on cytokines. He has been president of the International Endotoxin Society. He is member of the editorial boards of numerous journals.

Christophe Adrie is physician in Saint-Denis, France and has got his degree (MD, PhD) from Paris University. His main topics are systemic inflammation in sepsis and non-septic ones with a particular interest to the post-resuscitation phase after cardiac arrest successfully resuscitated on both clinical and biological aspects. He is also member of the Outcomerea database (epidemiological studies) and Family-rea group which studies the relationship between family and medical staff. He has authored 41 scientific publications, 9 reviews and 3 book chapters. He is a member of the French Society of Critical Care Medicine.