The benefit of drotrecogin alpha was established within the context of state-of-the-art intensive care units where all diagnostic and therapeutic measures were assured in the management of these patients. This level of complexity may be compared to, at least, Level 1 intensive care units from the National Program of Quality Assurance, from the National Ministry of Health. It is worth pointing out that few intensive care units today have achieved this level. The benefit of drotrecogin in intensive care units which do not meet these standards is uncertain.