system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A patient in the surgical ICU is in septic shock after surgery for perforated diverticulitis. His temperature is 102.3degF and his heart rate is 120 bpm. He is requiring dopamine for BP support. Which of the following drugs would be appropriate for use in this situation?
assistant
The correct answer is  Recombinant activated protein C (drotrecogin) was shown to reduce mortality in severe septic shock, but not mild septic shock. The major side effect of recombinant activated protein C is bleeding. Anti-TNF antibody, IL-1 receptor antagonist, and antiendotoxin antibody have failed to change outcomes in randomized, prospective trials. Sodium nitroprusside is a vasodilator and would worsen septic shock.