title: Epidemiological Study of Sepsis in China: Protocol of a Cross-sectional Survey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sepsis is the leading cause of death among critically ill patients. Herein, we conducted a national survey to provide data on epidemiology and treatment of sepsis in the clinical practice in China, which has no detailed epidemiological data available on sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cross-sectional survey from December 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016 in all provinces/municipalities of the mainland of China. The primary outcome of this study was the incidence of sepsis, and the secondary outcome was its etiology in China. Patients with sepsis admitted to the Intensive Care Units were included in this study. The demographic, physiological, bacteriological, and therapeutic data of these patients were recorded. The incidence of sepsis was estimated using the data from the sixth census in China, reported by the Chinese National Health and Family Planning Commission and the National Bureau of Statistics as the standard population. The independent risk factors for increased mortality from sepsis were calculated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicated the incidence and outcome of sepsis in China. It also showed the most common etiology of different sites and types of infection, which could guide empiric antibiotic therapy. Moreover, it provided information on the independent risk factors for increased mortality due to sepsis. The findings provide evidence to guide clinical management and may help improve the outcome in septic patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02448472; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02448472.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150040, China.
authors.forename: Kai-Jiang
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research Center, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Guo
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhejiang Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310030, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
authors.forename: Cong-Shan
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Chase Sun Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tianjin 300170, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Cai
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongda Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Bo
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology