Table 3

Microbiological and infection characteristics of the patients

Variable
Infection without SIRS (n = 32)
Sepsis (n = 47)
Severe sepsis (n = 27)

Assessment of infection (n)



     Gram-positive bacteria
6
12
10
     Gram-negative bacteria
7
10
7
     Other bacteria
0
2a
0
     Bacteremia
1
4
7
     Virus
3b
4c
1d
     Chest X-ray-verified pneumoniae
9
13
7
     Radiological evidencef
0
1
0
     Obvious clinical infectiong
7
5
2
Focus of infection (n)



     Upper respiratory tract infection
1
0
1
     Lower respiratory tract infection
12
25
15
     Endocarditis
1
0
1
     Gastroenteritis
5
1
0
     Pyelonephritis
2
2
1
     Cystitis
0
3
3
     Skin/soft tissue infection
1
4
3
     Bone/joints
2
1
0
     Other
8
11
3

SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome. aMycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 2). bEpstein–Barr virus (n = 1), influenzae A virus (n = 2). cEpstein–Barr virus (n = 2), influenza A virus (n = 2). dPuumala virus (n = 1). eChest X-ray-verified pneumonia with no identified pathogen. fInfection documented by imaging techniques (other than Chest X-ray) with no identified pathogen. gClinical infection (i.e. erysipelas, wound infection).

Gaïni et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R53   doi:10.1186/cc4866