Experimental and clinical aspects of the pathogenesis of endotoxin shock

The occurrence of a shock-like state in connection with an infectious disease was first reported by Laennek in 1831. More specifically, this relationship was established in 1899 [46]. The absence of a noticeable decrease in the frequency of recorded endotoxin shock in humans is due to a number of factors, the most important among which are the following: a) improvement in the diagnosis of endotoxin shock, made possible by the use of sophisticated diagnostic equipment; b) familiarity of specialists of various profiles with this nosological form; c) an increase in the life expectancy of patients with severe pathology and a decrease in general and immunological reactivity; d) the use of immunosuppressants and cytostatic drugs for allergies, malignant neoplasms, which facilitates the development of infectious pathology; e) frequent obstetric pathology, accompanied by the birth of children with reduced resistance; f) widespread use of antibiotic therapy, leading to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant microbes; it should also be noted here that when treating septic foci and infectious diseases with antibiotics, there is a danger of massive entry into the bloodstream of endotoxins released from dead microorganisms; g) carrying out complex diagnostic manipulations and surgical operations that open the entrance gates for infection.