What are the epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, and management of severe sepsis and septic shock?

The incidence of severe sepsis is between 50 and 100 episodes per 100,000 inhabitants per year.
The mortality rate of severe sepsis is estimated to be between 20-50% and increases with the severity of the disease.
The prevalence of sepsis caused by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria is similar, each causing approximately 25% of cases.
The use of endovascular devices or previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics against gram-negatives predisposes to the appearance of sepsis by gram-positives.