Septicemia in adults: II. Factors in prognosis

Over the period of 2 months between October and November, 1987, 190 episodes of septicemia in adults were monitored at Veterans General Hospital-Taipei. The most common causative microorganisms were Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. The most frequent sources of infection came from intra-abdominal (gastro-intestinal as well as hepato-biliary), urinary and respiratory tract. Its overall mortality was 34.7%. Factors associated with a higher mortality from septicemia were old age, rapidly fatal underlying disease, hospital acquired infection, hypothermia, hypotension/shock, high-risk source of infection (from respiratory tract, skin/soft tissue, surgical wound or other unknown source), high-risk microorganisms (Candida species, Ps. aeruginosa or K. Pneumoniae) and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. Identification of these factors may help early correction of reversible factors and improve its prognosis.