title: [The epidemiology of SIRS.sepsis in Japan].
abstract: We outline the epidemiology of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis and severe sepsis among intensive care unit (ICU) patients in Japan. One survey conducted in the ICU of a university hospital suggested that the prevalence of SIRS reached 84% among all ICU patients, and that about 8% of patients with SIRS progressed to severe sepsis. Gram-positive cocci were the most common isolates (58%) from ICU patients with sepsis. Moreover, a graded severity was noted from SIRS to sepsis and severe sepsis, with total in-hospital mortality of 6%, 20% and 63%, respectively. Thus, every effort should be made to decrease the risk of sepsis in ICU patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Tonami General Hospital.
authors.forename: Keizo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Funada
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology; D018746:Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*