Likewise, the risk of acquisition of a second infection in patients with sepsis was found to be increased when the dendritic cell count was persistently low [25] . A selective depletion of circulating plasmacytoid and myeloid dendritic cells was demonstrated by these authors and by others early after the onset of sepsis. The study suggests that the persistence of low levels increases susceptibility to the development of a second infection, and opens up a large field for further research.