Epidemiology of sepsis in Siriraj Hospital 2007.

BACKGROUND

Sepsis remains a major health burden, and there is limited epidemiological report of sepsis in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the epidemiology, treatments, clinical courses and outcomes of sepsis patients.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

All sepsis patients in medical wards at Siriraj Hospital were recruited from February 1 to July 31, 2007. The information from patients' medical records were retrieved and analyzed.

RESULTS

From 3,451 patients, 201 (5.8%) were diagnosed as sepsis, and 38.8% of these developed septic shock. Among sepsis patients, 62.2% were community acquired, 40.8% had bacteremia, and gram negative bacteria were the common pathogen (51.7%). Appropriate antibiotics were given within 6 hours in 39%. Goal-directed therapy was achieved in only 11.5%. The mortality among sepsis and septic shock patients was 34.3% and 52.6%, respectively (p = 0.008). Risk factors for hospital mortality included higher maximum SOFA score, hospital-acquired infection, central nervous system dysfunction and receiving antibiotics after 6 hours of onset of sepsis.

CONCLUSION

Sepsis is still common and has contributed to high mortality. Goal directed therapy and appropriate antibiotics given within 6 hours might improve the outcome.