Clinical Characteristics and Microbiological Profile of Septic and Septic Shock Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Department: A Single-Center Review

TL;DR

This study analyzed septic and septic shock patients in a hospital to understand the types of microbes causing infections and their impact on survival rates.

Contribution

The study provides insights into the microbiological profile and mortality rates of septic patients in a specific hospital setting.

Findings

Blood culture-negative sepsis was more common than blood culture-positive sepsis.

Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia were the most frequently isolated species.

Early mortality was higher in patients with blood culture-negative sepsis.

Abstract

Objectives

The study objectives include determining the incidence of different microbial isolates and the prevalence of multidrug-resistant microbes retrieved from the blood of septic and septic shock patients.

Design and setting

A retrospective observational study was conducted to explore the clinical and bloodstream microbiological characteristics of all sepsis and septic shock patients who required critical care services in Hatta Hospital - Dubai Health between January 2018 and December 2023. The primary focus was to characterize the microbiological profile of septic patients and identify their characteristics in relation to a short-term (28 days) outcome.

Patients above the age of 13 admitted to Hatta Hospital intensive care services with clinical suspected sepsis or septic shock were enrolled. A total of 246 patients were enrolled. The study population age ranged from 13 to 112 years, with a median of 81 years; there were 108 females (43.9%) and 138 males (56.1%).

Results

The blood culture was positive in 53 (21.5%) of patients, but negative-culture sepsis was reported in 193 (78.5%) patients. The most common isolated species were gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. With regard to the early 28-day mortality, the survivors were 178 (72.4%) and the nonsurvivors were 68 (27.6%). Fifty-eight (85.3%) of the recorded early mortality was noted in blood culture-negative patients, while ten (14.7%) recorded early mortality was noted in blood culture-positive patients.

Conclusions

Blood culture-negative sepsis and septic shock demonstrated a higher early mortality compared to blood culture-positive patients.