Fatal Sequence: The Killer Within

The human body is capable of killing itself for little apparent reason, and it happens often enough to rank as the third most common cause of death in the United States today. Kevin Tracey, a neurosurgeon, immunologist, and highly regarded scientist, offers in "Fatal Sequence" an easily understandable account of the medical and scientific "perfect storm" that is severe sepsis, the medical crisis that can descend on patients fighting off even seemingly nonfatal illness or injury. Severe sepsis killed "Muppets" creator Jim Henson, who had been hospitalized for pneumonia, and took the life of Christopher Reeve, who was being treated for pressure sores of the skin. "Fatal Sequence" tells the story of Janice, a one-year-old who arrives in the emergency room, burned by boiling water after she crawled behind her unsuspecting grandmother as she turned from the stove. She survives the night, but the following morning is only the beginning of her long and intense battle against severe sepsis, as her body attacks itself. Tracey, who cared for the girl during her four weeks in intensive care, draws on her case to vividly illustrate why sepsis happens, in a sensitive, suspenseful story that renders cutting-edge science human, accessible, and unforgettable.