Expert review of anti-infective therapy
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Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther · Mar 2012
ReviewThe immune response to severe bacterial infections: consequences for therapy.
The immune response to a bacterial stimulus starts when pathogen-associated molecular patterns of the bacterial pathogens activate pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system. This leads to production of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators aiming to contain infection and drive the clinical signs of sepsis. ⋯ The majority of therapies targeting the immune responses have failed to provide clinical benefit. Immunostimulation with IFN-γ and leukocyte growth factors, hemoperfusion with polymyxin B-embedded fiber column, and macrolides remain the most promising immunomodulators in clinical practice.