Novel Therapeutic Agents in Pediatric Sepsis - Zinc

Abstract

Zinc status and infections are closely inter-related. For nearly half a century, the effects that zinc depletion has on the status of the immune system has been slowly elucidated. More recently, the effects that infection and sepsis have on an organism's zinc supplies have begun to be recognized and potential therapeutic intervention in this zinc/infection interplay are beginning to be explored. The literature related to these areas is reviewed, and possible future directions are discussed.