Introduction: Oxidative damage is one of the major factors that lead to cell damage, organ dysfunction and mortality in sepsis. Thus, an attractive candidate for pharmacologic treatment of the septic syndrome is deferoxamine (DFX), an antioxidant iron chelator used for the removal of iron and a potential free radical scavenger. In this study, the impact of DFX administration on the survival of septic animals was evaluated. Material and Methods: Sepsis was induced in 20 rats, using the Cecal Ligation and Puncture method (CLP) and 10 rats randomly received subcutaneous DFX (total dose: 40mg/kg) twice and the other 10 rats received placebo (normal saline). All the rats had equal health status, environment and nutrition. The time of the death of the rats was recorded. Results: Deferoxamine increased the survival period in rats and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Treatment with DFX significantly increases the survival of septic rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]