Scientists probe why immune cells run out of steam during severe infections

This study aimed to understand why some patients with severe bloodstream infections (sepsis) get worse even while on antibiotics. Researchers measured the energy production in certain immune cells (myeloid cells) from 36 adults in the intensive care unit, comparing those with and without bacterial infections. The goal was to see if problems with the cells' energy factories (mitochondria) could explain why the immune system sometimes fails to fight the infection.