Risk factors associated to sepsis severity in patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract Introduction sepsis is a serious public health problem, leading cause of death in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) worldwide. Objective this study evaluated the aggravation and mortality of sepsis patients in ICU, relating to risk factors, different etiologies and therapies. Methodology the study was observational descriptive, and evaluated the cases of sepsis (sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock) from January 2009 to December 2010. Results of the 212 patients hospitalized in ICU, 181 presented sepsis at different severities, whose sepsis mortality in the ICU was 63%, especially in patients with septic shock (53%), followed by severe sepsis (8.3%). Moreover, the risk factors associated with the aggravation of sepsis were older than 65 years, longer ICU hospitalization time, high frequency of comorbidities and the use of invasive procedures. The highest consumption of antibiotics was carbapenems, and the main isolated multiresistant strains were MRSA, VRE, P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii resistant to carbapenems. Conclusion this study showed a high mortality from sepsis patients in the ICU, especially in patients with septic shock with comorbidities, who underwent invasive procedures and longer hospitalization time.