Table 1. Baseline characteristics of the study population (n = 38).
| Age (yrs) | 66±14 |
| Male gender | 19 (50%) |
| Body Mass Index (kg/m2) | 27±5 |
| SAPS-II (score points) | 55±23 |
| Systemic inflammatory response syndrome | 10 (26%) |
| Sepsis | 5 (13%) |
| Severe sepsis | 7 (19%) |
| Septic shock | 16 (42%) |
| Main diagnosis | |
| Pneumonia | 14 (37%) |
| Cholezystitis/cholangitis | 3 (8%) |
| Erysipelas | 3 (8%) |
| Colitis | 2 (5%) |
| Pancreatitis | 1 (3%) |
| Peritonitis | 2 (5%) |
| Meningitis | 1 (3%) |
| Urosepsis | 1 (3%) |
| Type of pathogen | |
| Gram positive | 15 (40%) |
| Gram negative | 11 (29%) |
| Fungal infection | 2 (5%) |
| Culture negative | 10 (26%) |
Data are presented as numbers (%) and mean ± standard deviation as appropriate. SAPS-II = simplified acute physiology score II (high scores indicate severe illness).