The purpose of this study is to describe the value of serum sTREM (soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells)-1, sCD163, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) count and SOFA score during sepsis and their clinical informative value in predicting outcome.

The investigators enrolled 130 subjects admitted to an ICU: 30 cases with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), 36 cases with sepsis, 35 cases with and 29 with septic shock. Results for sTREM (soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells)-1, sCD163, procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, white blood cell (WBC) count and SOFA score were recorded on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, and 14.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female aged 18 years old and over;
• Clinically suspected infection;
• Fulfilled at least two criteria of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (a) core temperature higher than 38 °C or lower than 36 °C (b)respiratory rate above 20/min, or PCO2 below 32 mmHg (c) pulse rate above 90/min, and (d) white blood cell count greater than 12,000/μl or lower than < 4,000/μl or less than 10% of bands.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Those who fulfilled one below:
• neutropenia (≤ 500 neutrophils/mm3)
• HIV infection, and
• patients or their relatives refused

Between September 2009 and July 2011, inpatients were included who were in the intensive care units (ICU) of the Department of Respiratory Disease, the Emergency Department, and the Department of Surgery of the Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital.