Figure 2.

Proportions of patients included in the study according to their antimicrobial therapy status. During their intensive care unit stay in each ICU represented on the vertical axis. In ICUs 1 to 16 no written empiric antibiotic protocol was used while protocols were used in units 17 to 41. I) patients never receiving any antimicrobial agents; (II) patients suspected of having bacterial infection and already receiving antibiotic treatment at the time of admission; (III) patients receiving antibiotic therapy for a known infection with identification and susceptibility testing of the pathogen at the time of admission; (IV) patients receiving new antibiotic therapy for suspicion of infection during their ICU stay.