[Septicemia in the intensive care of severely injured patients]

In surgical intensive care septicaemia, confirmed by bacteriological culture, was found in 46 out of 1143 severely injured patients. Source of this complication was infection of the respiratory tract in 43%, intraabdominal infection in 17%, and a septic wound in 15%. Mortality was 50%. Early diagnosis (fever, increase of leucocytes and toxic signs in differential blood count, thrombocythemia, decrease of anorganic phosphate), prophylaxis, and treatment are discussed.