Der Internist
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The pathophysiology of sepsis is not completely understood. Bacteria are the main cause of sepsis. Activated receptors of the innate immune system lead to an exaggerated immune response. ⋯ The early phase of sepsis is characterized by a proinflammatory response. In contrast, in the late stage of sepsis an anti-inflammatory milieu is observed that can cause severe immunosuppression. An overview will be given on the recent advances in understanding the interaction of different pathophysiological mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions in the complex and dynamic syndrome of sepsis.