Fever in septic ICU patients: friend or foe?

Fever in septic ICU patients: friend or foe? Critical Care 2011 15:222

Launey Y, Nesseler, N, Malledant Y and Seguin P.

In recent years, fever control in critically ill patients by medications and/or external cooling has gained widespread use, notably in patients suffering from neurological injuries. Nevertheless, such a strategy in septic patients is not supported by relevant data. Indeed, in response to sepsis, experimental and clinical studies argue that fever plays a key role in increasing the clearance of microorganisms, the immune response and the heat shock response. Moreover, fever is a cornerstone diagnostic sign in clinical practice, which aids in early and appropriate therapy, and allows physicians to follow the infection course. After discussing the physiological aspects of fever production, this review aims to delineate the advantages and drawbacks of fever in septic patients.