Related Experiment Videos
Prognostic indicators of septicaemia--a two year prospective evaluation
R P Iyer1, G K Duckett, T D Brogan
1Department of Medicine, Stepping Hill Hospital, Stockport, Cheshire SK, UK.
Postgraduate Medical Journal
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Predicting septicaemia prognosis is possible using simple clinical factors. Factors like sex, infection source, and blood urea can accurately forecast patient outcomes without high costs.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Prognostic Studies
Background:
- Septicaemia poses a significant challenge in district general hospitals.
- Understanding factors influencing septicaemia prognosis is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively investigate factors affecting septicaemia prognosis over two years.
- To identify simple, cost-effective predictors of patient outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study over a two-year period in a district general hospital.
- Analysis of clinical and laboratory findings in patients with septicaemia.
- Evaluation of age-related trends and their impact on survival.
Main Results:
- Age showed little direct influence on septicaemia outcome.
- Mortality rates for patients over 65 (39.5%) and under 65 (34.5%) were not significantly different.
- Several factors, including sex, infection source, and blood urea, showed age-related trends impacting survival.
Conclusions:
- Prognosis for septicaemia can be predicted using readily available clinical and laboratory data.
- Simple factors like sex, infection source, intercurrent illness, blood urea, pulse rate, and temperature offer reasonable predictive accuracy.
- This approach avoids excessive expenditure, making prognostic assessment more accessible.