Table 1.
Demographic and clinical data of the patient population
| Proven infection (n = 27) |
Unproven infection (n = 23) |
P | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 70 ± 12.1 | 56 ± 22.1 | 0.03 |
| Gender (male) | 20 (74%) | 18 (78%) | NS |
| ICU stay duration until study enrollment | 25 ± 12 | 29 ± 14 | NS |
| APACHE II score on study enrollment | 20.5 ± 4.4 | 15.3 ± 4.1 | <0.001 |
| SOFA score on day 1 (Day of fever) | 10.1 ± 3 | 6.2 ± 2.4 | 0.004 |
| Δ SOFA score | 2.7 ± 1.9 | 0.6 ± 1 | <0.001 |
| 28-day mortality | 15/27 (56%) | 7/23 (30%) | NS |
| Day 1 (Day of fever) status | |||
| SIRS | 1 (4%) | 6 (26%) | NS |
| SIRS+New organ failure (besides circulation) | 13 (48%) | 14 (61%) | NS |
| Shock | 13 (48%) | 3 (13%) | 0.07 |
| Admission category | |||
| Respiratory | 7 (26%) | 6 (26%) | NS |
| Cardiovascular | 6 (22%) | 3 (13%) | NS |
| Neurological | 9 (33%) | 10 (43%) | NS |
| Trauma/Surgical | 5 (19%) | 2 (9%) | NS |
| Co-morbidities | |||
| Malignancy | 2 (7%) | 2 (9%) | NS |
| CRRT | 8 (30%) | 5 (22%) | NS |
| Steroids | 4 (15%) | 3 (13%) | NS |
| Previous septic episodes | NS | ||
| MDR pathogens in the last tracheal aspirate | 27/27 (100%) | 21/23 (91%) | NS |
| MDR pathogens in the last anal swab | 27/27 (100%) | 20/23 (87%) | NS |
| Proven infection | 17/27(63%) | 13/23(56%) | NS |
| Ventilator-associated pneumonia | 16 (60%) | 0 | |
| Bloodstream infection | 8 (30%) | 0 | |
| Abdominal infection | 3 (10%) | 0 | |
ICU: Intensive Care Unit, APACHE: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation, SOFA: System Organ Failure Assessment, ΔSOFA: difference between Day 1 (fever) and Day 0 in SOFA score, SIRS: Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, CRRT: Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, MDR: Multi-Drug Resistant.