title: Septicaemia in a teaching hospital in Kuwait--II: Factors influencing the outcome in III episodes.
abstract: The case fatality rate (CFR) among III episodes of septicaemia in Kuwait was 22.5%. It increased with age but was not influenced by sex. Gram-negative, polymicrobial and hospital-acquired septicaemia carried a high mortality rate. Due to the influence of the more common, but less fatal salmonella infections, however, mortality from septicaemia caused by Gram-negative bacteria was lower than that reported from more developed countries. Patients with underlying conditions, such as malignancy, chronic liver disease, diabetes mellitus, renal transplant and conditions requiring surgery, as well as those with unknown sources of infection or infection originating from the respiratory tract or from surgical wounds had high mortality rates. The chances of survival increased with the use of appropriate antibiotic therapy and the absence of underlying disease. None of the patients with underlying conditions survived after receiving inappropriate therapy as compared with 50% who were previously healthy. The changing aetiology and the emergence of immuno compromised patients are possible causes for the failure to reduce significantly the mortality from septicaemia in Kuwait.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007730:Kuwait; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D014180:Transplantation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents