Figure 1.

Flowchart exhibiting the selection of the sepsis patients (n = 69). According to the diagnostic criteria of sepsis, 75 patients with sepsis were admitted, 7 of whom were removed due to the exclusion principle, and 69 patients with sepsis remained. Sepsis patients were further divided into sepsis group (n = 38) and septic shock group (n = 31) according to the presence or absence of shock symptoms. Sepsis patients were divided into survivors group (n = 46) and nonsurvivors group (n = 23) according to mortality at 28 d of hospital stay. HIV = human immunodeficiency virus, n = number.