IL1B and Sepsis: In accordance with the finding of an increased caspase‐1 activity, plasma levels of the caspase‐1‐mediated cytokine IL‐18 were elevated in patients with bacteremia compared with controls, as previously reported in neonates with sepsis.30 However, in contrast to IL‐18, levels of IL‐1β were low in both patients with bacteremia and controls.