[Activity and the available human resources working in 66 French Southern intensive care units]

The aim of the study was to determine the activity and the available human resources working in 66 intensive care unit (ICU).

One-day audit performed between January 2009 and May 2009 by trained residents.

Among 710 beds, 695 (98%) beds were available for 626 patients (occupation rate=90%). The two most frequent causes of admission were shock and pneumonia. On admission, the median SAPS II was 46. More than 75% of patients had at least two organ dysfunctions within their ICU stay (respiratory failure=80%, circulatory failure=67%). At the moment of the audit, the median SOFA score was 3, and 549 (88%) patients had required a billing procedure with an admission SAPS II greater or equal to 15. Twenty seven percent of ICUs had a ratio patients/nurses or patients/aid nurse greater than 2.5 and 4, respectively whereas 58% ICUs had a ratio open beds/nurse greater than 2.5 or open beds/aid nurse greater than 4.

In this study, more than 75% patients had at least two organ dysfunctions within their ICU stay and 88% required a billing procedure and had an admission SAPS II greater or equal to 15. Nevertheless, the staff resource remained below the 2002 decree in 27% ICUs.