Table 1

Patient characteristics, diagnoses and baseline laboratory values

Characteristic
BSI-positive (n = 78)
BSI-negative (n = 122)
P value

Age (years)
55 (44–64)
55 (45–68)
0.2
Male gender
53 (68)
69 (57)
0.13
Intensive care unit location
60 (77)
62 (51)
0.0002
Admission diagnosis



     Trauma
26 (33)
29 (24)
0.15
     Infection
17 (22)
18 (15)
0.45
     Other general surgery diagnosis
25 (32)
51 (42)
0.18
Comorbid conditions



     Diabetes mellitus
12 (15)
17 (14)
0.84
     Malignancy
10 (13)
17 (14)
1
     Immunosuppression
9 (12)
20 (16)
0.41
Baseline nutrition laboratory values



     Prealbumin (g/dl)
7.2 (4.5–10.5)
8.6 (5.2–11.8)
0.25
     Albumin (g/dl)
1.6 (1.3–2)
1.9 (1.5–2.5)
0.0009
     C-reactive protein
140 (82–223)
144 (74–201)
0.5

Data presented as the median (interquartile range) or as n (%). BSI, bloodstream infections.

Dissanaike et al. Critical Care 2007 11:R114   doi:10.1186/cc6167