Table 4

Demographic and clinical characteristics of severe sepsis and/or septic shock patients

Demographic/clinical characteristic
Severe sepsis (n = 134)
Septic shock (n = 53)

Previous location
Surgery
50 (37)
26 (49)
Internal Medicine
20 (15)
5 (9)
Cardiology
0
0
Neurology
5 (4)
2 (4)
Emergency room
35 (26)
14 (26)
Outside hospital
13 10)
3 (6)
Other
11 (8)
3 (6)
Reason for ICU admission
Acute surgery
41 (31)
20 (38)
Elective surgery
5 (4)
2 (4)
Acute trauma
5 (4)
1 (2)
Acute infection
83 (62)
30 (57)
Source of infection
Lung
63 (47)
22 (42)
Abdomen
45 (34)
20 (38)
Urethra
3 (2)
3 (6)
Central nervous system
2 (1)
1 (2)
Blood
3 (2)
0
Skin
9 (7)
5 (9)
Other
9 (7)
2 (4)
Comorbidities
Diabetes
25 (19)
9 (17)
History of CVA
17 (13)
7 (13)
Malignancy
32 (24)
14 (26)
Heart failure
12 (9)
4 (8)
Respiratory failure
35 (26)
13 (25)
Liver failure
2 (1)
1 (2)
Kidney failure
14 (10)
7 (13)

Previous location, reason for admission, source of infection and presence of comorbidities at the time of intensive care unit (ICU) admission in prevalent patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Number of patients (%). CVA, cerebrovascular accident.

van Gestel et al. Critical Care 2004 8:R153   doi:10.1186/cc2858