Microbiological Diagnosis of Sepsis: The Confounding Effect of a "Gold Standard" -- Pathopysiological Aspects of Sepsis: An Overview -- Clinical Aspects of Sepsis: An Overview -- Technical Improvements in Culturing Blood -- Matrix-Assisted Laser-Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS)-Based Identification of Pathogens from Positive Blood Culture Bottles -- Bacterial and Fungal DNA Extraction from Positive Blood Culture Bottles: A Manual and an Automated Protocol -- Broad-Range-PCR in the Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens from Positive Blood Culture Bottles: A Sequencing Approach -- Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens from Positive Blood Culture Bottles: A Microarray-Based Approach -- Detection of Carbapenemases Using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) Meropenem Hydrolysis Assay --  Molecular Detection of Antibiotic Resistance Genes from Positive Blood Cultures -- Bacterial and Fungal DNA Extraction from Blood Samples: Manual Protocols -- Bacterial and Fungal DNA Extraction from Blood Samples: Automated Protocols -- Broad-Range-PCR in the Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens from Blood Samples: A Sequencing Approach -- Real-Time PCR-Based Identification of Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens from Blood Samples -- Host Response Biomarkers in the Diagnosis of Sepsis: A General Overview -- Host Response Biomarkers in Sepsis: The Role of Procalcitonin -- Host Response Biomarkers in Sepsis: Overview on sTREM-1 Detection -- Host Response Biomarkers in Sepsis: suPAR Detection -- Clinical Diagnosis of Sepsis and the Combined Use of Biomarkers, Culture- and Non-Culture-Based Assays.

This volume covers microbiological, clinical and patophysiological aspects of sepsis and also provides general overview chapters with every chapter discussing the real clinical impact of the discussed diagnostic approaches. Sepsis is a major clinical problem that takes an inordinate toll on human lives and economical resources. It is widely recognized that inappropriate treatment is associated with a dramatic  increase in mortality, especially within the first hours, therefore clinical and microbiological diagnosis are of pivotal importance in the management of septic patients. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.   Authoritative and easily accessible, Sepsis: Diagnostic Methods and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices with its well-honed methodologies in an effort to further our knowledge of this life-threatening illness.