Table 2

Microbiological and infection characteristics of the patients

Variable
Infected patients without SIRS
(n = 32)
Patients with sepsis
(n = 47)
Patients with severe sepsis
(n = 27)

Assessment of infection, number



     Gram-positive bacteria
6
12
10
     Gram-negative bacteria
7
10
7
     Other bacteria
0
2a
0
     Bacteraemia
1
4
7
     Virus
3b
4c
1d
     CXR verified pneumoniae
9
13
7
     Radiological evidencef
0
1
0
     Obvious clinical infectiong
7
5
2
Focus of infection, number



     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

aMycoplasma pneumoniae (n = 2); bEpstein-Barr virus (n = 1), influenza A virus (n = 2);

cEpstein-Barr virus (n = 2), influenza A virus (n = 2); dPuumala virus (n = 1); eCXR verified pneumonia with no identified pathogen; finfection documented by imaging techniques (other than CXR) with no identified pathogen; gclinical infection (for instance, erysipelas, wound infection). CXR, chest x-ray; SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Gaïni et al. Critical Care 2007 11:R32   doi:10.1186/cc5715