Purpose of review: To critically examine the mortality rates of septic shock over the last 25 years to determine if significant improvements have been accomplished.
Recent findings: A gradual and progressive improvement in mortality rates associated with septic shock has been realized over the few decades. These improvements in outcome are quantitatively small but significant and they primarily represent improvements in supportive care, and the recognition that well meaning and seemingly logical treatments have been overused and probably contributed to excess mortality rates in the past.
Summary: Survival rates for patients in septic shock have gradually improved in critical care units worldwide over the last 25 years. Further improvement will be predicated on the discovery of new therapies to disrupt the underlying pathophysiology of sepsis and the development of improved rapid, diagnostic testing and immune monitoring of individual patients.