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[Fever of unknown origin in the intensive care unit]

S Lemmen1, K Lewalter

  • 1Zentralbereich für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektiologie, Universitätsklinkum Aachen. slemmen@ukaachen.de

Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|May 17, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Fever is a common issue in intensive care units, stemming from infectious or non-infectious causes. Critical evaluation of antipyretic treatment is advised for new fever cases in ICU patients.

Area of Science:

  • Critical care medicine
  • Infectious diseases
  • Internal medicine

Context:

  • Fever is a frequent clinical manifestation in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.
  • Identifying the source of fever is crucial for appropriate management.
  • Both infectious and non-infectious etiologies contribute to fever in this population.

Purpose:

  • To outline common infectious and non-infectious causes of fever in ICU patients.
  • To emphasize the importance of diagnostic decision-making for fever onset.
  • To advocate for a critical approach to antipyretic therapy.

Summary:

  • Common infectious sources include ventilator-associated pneumonia, catheter-related infections, Clostridium difficile, and sinusitis.
  • Non-infectious causes encompass thromboembolic events, myocardial infarction, autoimmune diseases, withdrawal syndromes, and drug fever.
  • Each fever episode necessitates a thorough diagnostic evaluation, with careful consideration of antipyretic use.

Impact:

  • Improved diagnostic strategies for fever in critically ill patients.
  • Enhanced understanding of fever etiologies in intensive care settings.
  • Informed clinical decision-making regarding fever management and treatment.

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