Table 1.
Baseline characteristics.
| Variables | Triple Therapy (n = 47) | Standard Care (n = 47) | p |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean ± SD, year | 58.3 ± 17.0 | 60.1 ± 14.0 | 0.589 |
| Weight, mean ± SD, kg | 82.1 ± 32.6 | 80.7 ± 22.5 | 0.812 |
| Sex, male, No (%) | 28 (59.6) | 29 (61.7) | 0.833 |
| Comorbidities, No (%) | |||
| None/Unknown | 4 (8.5) | 3 (6.4) | 1.000 |
| Diabetes | 14 (29.8) | 10 (21.3) | 0.344 |
| Hypertension | 18 (38.3) | 21 (44.7) | 0.53 |
| CAD/MI | 7 (14.9) | 4 (8.5) | 0.336 |
| Heart failure | 5 (10.6) | 4 (8.5) | 0.503 |
| Malignancy | 8 (17.0) | 12 (25.5) | 0.313 |
| COPD | 2 (4.3) | 7 (14.9) | 0.158 |
| Cirrhosis | 5 (10.6) | 11 (23.4) | 0.100 |
| CVA | 5 (10.6) | 1 (2.1) | 0.203 |
| CKD | 4 (8.5) | 10 (21.3) | 0.082 |
| Immunocompromised | 3 (6.4) | 6 (12.8) | 0.486 |
| Drug addiction | 4 (8.5) | 5 (10.6) | 1.000 |
| Primary diagnosis No (%) | |||
| Pneumonia | 22 (46.8) | 18 (38.3) | 0.404 |
| Urosepsis | 4 (8.5) | 8 (17.0) | 0.216 |
| Primary bacteremia | 3 (6.4) | 3 (6.4) | 1.000 |
| GI/biliary | 10 (21.3) | 15 (31.9) | 0.243 |
| Other (meningitis, TSS, unknown, patient deceased before cultures, necrotizing fasciitis) | 7 (14.9) | 4 (8.5) | 0.336 |
| Unknown | 1 (2.1) | 0 (0.0) | 1.000 |
| Mechanical ventilation, No (%) | 43 (91.5) | 39 (83.0) | 0.216 |
| Vasopressors, No (%) | 47 (100) | 47 (100) | 1.000 |
| Acute kidney injury, No (%) | 38 (80.9) | 32 (68.1) | 0.156 |
| Positive blood cultures, No (%) | 16 (34.0) | 18 (38.3) | 0.668 |
| Lab values | |||
| WBC, mean ± SD, ×109 (excluding immunosuppressed patients) | 16.6 ± 13.0 | 16.1 ± 11.8 | 0.834 |
| Lactate, median (IQR), mmol/L | 2.7 (1.5–5.5) | 2.9 (1.5–4.2) | 0.708 |
| Creatinine, median (IQR), mg/dL (excluding CKD) | 1.4 (0.9–2.2) | 1.4 (0.9–2.5) | 0.988 |
| Procalcitonin, median (IQR), mcg/mL | 7.3 (0.7–52.1) | 4.3 (1.4–13.3) | 0.534 |
| Treatment timing and duration | |||
| Fluids within 3 h of culture, No (%) | 31 (66.0) | 36 (76.6) | 0.254 |
| Fluids at least 30 mL/kg (within 3 h), No (%) | 21 (67.7) | 23 (63.9) | 0.740 |
| Antibiotics within 3 h of culture, No (%) | 32 (68.1) | 26 (55.3) | 0.203 |
| Appropriate antibiotics (overall), No (%) | 37 (78.7) | 33 (70.2) | 0.344 |
| Number of vitamin C doses, mean ± SD | 12.3 ± 6.3 | 0 | – |
| Duration of vitamin C therapy, median (IQR), h | 90.0 (45.0–96.0) | 0 | – |
| Number of thiamine doses, mean ± SD | 6.6 ± 3.2 | 0 | – |
| Duration of thiamine therapy, median (IQR), h | 96.0 (48.0–96.0) | 0 | – |
| Receipt of hydrocortisone, No (%) | 47 (100) | 19 (40.4) | <0.05 |
| Daily dose of hydrocortisone, mean ± SD, mg | 176.7 ± 42.0 | 177.5 ± 42.5 | 0.941 |
| Duration of hydrocortisone therapy, median (IQR), h | 96.0 (48.0–156.0) | 104.5 (77.3–188.0) | 0.220 |
| Critical illness scores and predicted mortality | |||
| Day 1 SOFA, mean ± SD | 10.6 ± 10.6 | 9.7 ± 10.0 | 0.211 |
| APACHE II, mean ± SD | 21.5 ± 8.0 | 20.0 ± 7.4 | 0.739 |
| APACHE IV, mean ± SD | 88.6 ± 29.1 | 84.1 ± 25.4 | 0.455 |
| APACHE IV Predicted mortality, mean ± SD | 38.9 ± 27.2 | 39.0 ± 23.6 | 0.991 |
SD: standard deviation; CAD: coronary artery disease; MI: myocardial infarction; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CVA: cerebrovascular accident; CKD: chronic kidney disease; GI: gastrointestinal; TSS: toxic shock syndrome; WBC: white blood cell; IQR: interquartile range; SOFA: Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment; APACHE: Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation.