# 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.

## Key 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.