Despite the progress that has been made in intensive care medicine, sepsis and septic shock are still accompanied by a high mortality rate. In recent years, new therapeutic approaches have been developed on the basis of a better understanding of this complex condition. This monograph contains contributions by well-known scientists and clinicians in the fields of hygienics, microbiology, infectious diseases, physiology, surgery and intensive care medicine. It provides an up-to-date overview of the etiology, pathophysiology, prevention, and therapy of sepsis and its complications.