No differences were observed regarding sex, chronic renal failure, COPD, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, site of infection, microorganism responsible, bloodstream infection, antimicrobial treatment and TNF-alpha; however, the non-surviving septic patients showed higher age, higher levels of lactic acid and IL-10 and creatinine, increased SOFA and APACHE-II scores, prolonged aPTT, and reduced platelet count. This evidence concerns the gene TNF and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.