title: Sepsis in the intensive care unit: etiologies, prognostic factors and mortality.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Sepsis is the main cause of death in patients treated in intensive care units (ICU). The aim of this study was to evaluate etiology, prognostic factors and mortality of septic patients treated in ICU of Passo Fundo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of 971 consecutive patients prospectively evaluated from August 2005 to February 2006, 560 were selected due to presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and followed for 28 days or until discharge or death. Patients were categorized according with the etiology of SIRS and further classified as having SIRS, sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock. Prognosis was assessed by means of Apache II and SOFA. Mortality was compared in different etiologies of sepsis, APACHE II and SOFA scores, parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 971 patients admitted to the ICU, 560 developed SIRS (58%). The most frequent cause of internation was neurological disease (28.9%), the most frequent site of infection was the respiratory tract (71.6%), and the most prevalent pathogens were gram-negative bacilli (53.2%). Mean APACHE II score was 18 ± 9, and mean SOFA score was 5 ± 4. Median ICU stay was 6 (3-11) days and overall mortality rate was 31.1%: 6.1% for non-infectious SIRS, 10.1% for sepsis, 22.6% for severe sepsis, and 64.8% for septic shock.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sepsis is an important health problem that leads to an extremely high mortality rate in the ICU of Passo Fundo, Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zanon
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Jairo José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Caovilla
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital da Cidade de Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Regina Schwerz
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital da Cidade de Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Estevan Vieira
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Cabeda
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital da Cidade de Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Diego Francisco
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Ceretta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Graziela Denardin
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Luckemeyer
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Cássia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beltrame
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo, Passo Fundo.
authors.forename: Naiana
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Posenatto