Primary sepsis in a university hospital in northern Sweden: a retrospective study.
BACKGROUND
Severe sepsis and septic shock are associated with high mortality rates. Data on sepsis outcome from Scandinavian countries are sparse. The aim of this study was to examine the length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, ICU mortality and costs of care for adult patients with primary sepsis in a university hospital in northern Sweden.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective data analysis of records of 92 patients admitted over a 3-year period, under the diagnosis of sepsis or urosepsis. Demographic data, admission category, APACHE II score, aetiology and severity of sepsis, ICU LOS, mortality and TISS were analyzed.


RESULTS
Eighty-one adult patients were identified by standard definitions as suffering from sepsis. The median ICU length of stay was 4.2 days, 6 days for survivors and 2.1 days for non-survivors. Thirteen out of 20 deaths occurred within the first 3 days after admission. Overall ICU mortality rate was 24.7% while the ICU mortality for patients with septic shock was 57.7%. The mean costs of care for patients with sepsis were 3139 Euros day(-1) and the cost of care per patient surviving sepsis was 38,494 Euros.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of primary sepsis in our ICU was low. Previous reports on high mortality in association with severe sepsis and septic shock are valid also at our hospital. The ICU-LOS was shorter than previously reported, while our costs of care were in the same range as stated by others. This retrospective analysis is valid for interpretation of the applicability of currently available sepsis therapies.
Jacobson
S
S
Department of Surgical and Perioperative Sciences, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Umeå University Hospital, Sweden. sofie.jacobsson@vll.se
Johansson
G
G
Winsö
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome