Table 2

Patient characteristics at the day of random assignment


Intention to treat
Modified intention to treat

Antibiotic treatment
n = 22
No antibiotic treatment
n = 36
P value
Antibiotic treatment
n = 18
No antibiotic treatment
n = 26
P value

Duration of mechanical ventilation before random assignment, days
17 ± 9
13 ± 6
0.232
17 ± 10
12 ± 6
0.113
SAPS II
33 ± 13
36 ± 13
0.195
32 ± 10
36 ± 12
0.120
LOD score
4.1 ± 2
4.9 ± 2.4
0.185
3.8 ± 1.5
4.8 ± 2.6
0.210
Temperature, °C
38.1 ± 0.6
38.3 ± 0.6
0.408
38.2 ± 0.5
38.2 ± 0.4
0.402
Leucocytes, × 109 cells/L
12 ± 5.9
12 ± 6
0.619
11.2 ± 4.2
11.9 ± 5.7
0.775
C-reactive protein, mg/mL
111 ± 61
104 ± 80
0.417
104 ± 50
95 ± 67
0.295
Procalcitonin, ng/mL, median (IR)
0.6 (0.10–3.1)
0.8 (0.5–2.7)
0.282
0.7 (0.05–2.8)
0.83 (0.36–2.1)
0.494

Results of univariate analysis are presented. Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation unless otherwise indicated. IR, interquartile range; LOD, logistic organ dysfunction; SAPS, Simplified Acute Physiology Score.

Nseir et al. Critical Care 2008 12:R62   doi:10.1186/cc6890