Table 2 Combined recommendations and considerations from the working groups (WG) 3 and 4

Infection types (WG-3)

8. We recommend that challenge with LPS is not an appropriate model for replicating human sepsis

R

9. We recommend that microorganisms used in animal models preferentially replicate those commonly found in human sepsis

e. Consider modeling sepsis syndromes that are initiated at sites other than the peritoneal cavity (e.g., lung, urinary tract, brain)

C

Organ Failure/ Dysfunction (WG-4)

10. Organ/system dysfunction is defined as life-threatening deviation from normal for that organ/system based on objective evidence

R

11. Not all activities in an individual organ/system need to be abnormal for organ dysfunction to be present

12. To define objective evidence of the severity of organ/system dysfunction, a scoring system should be developed, validated and used, or use an existing scoring system

13. Not all experiments must measure all parameters of organ dysfunction but animal models should be fully exploited

f. Avoid hypoglycemia

C