Clinical Research Directory

Inclusion Criteria: * Electively scheduled for surgical operation that require general anesthesia and expected duration of hospitalization of longer than one day (for patients in Perioperative Evaluation \& Management \[POEM\]) or high clinical suspicion of sepsis by the emergency physician (for patients in emergency center) * Ability to give informed consent. If the patient is incapacitated and unable to give informed consent, the next-of-kin or a person who has the power of attorney must be present for informed consent. * For patients in the emergency center only, two or more of the following SIRS criteria: * Leukocytes \> 12,000/mm\^3 or \< 4,000/mm\^3 or \> 10% immature (band) forms, provided that no filgrastim or pegfilgrastim was administered within 30 days and no leukemia * Heart rate \> 90 beats/minute (min) * Respiratory rate \> 20 breaths/min or partial pressure of carbon dioxide (CO2) \< 32 mmHg * Oral temperature \> 38 degrees Celsius (C) or \< 36 degrees C or axillary temperature \> 37 degrees C or \< 35 degrees C Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to give informed consent or a person who has power of attorney for medical decision is not available * Being moribund (for patients in emergency center) or cancellation of surgery (for patients in POEM) * Active "Do Not Resuscitate" or "Do Not Intubate" order