Recently published papers: Sugar, soap and statins – an unlikely recipe for the critically ill

The eagerly awaited SOAP (Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely ill Patients) study is published and its observational data provide much of interest, not least in generating further hypotheses on improving treatment in this challenging group. Glycaemic control in the critically ill is once more the focus of attention, and we discuss three studies in this area. Not least among these reports is that from the van den Bergh group, who provide further data on their intensive insulin protocol in a more heterogeneous group, namely medical intensive care unit patients. Finally, we discuss another good reason to take statins.