Reasons for Hospitalisation, Sepsis Development and Mortality Among Syrian Patients in an Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Objective: Our aim is to investigate causes of hospitalization of Syrian patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), development of sepsis, relevant reasons of pathogens and mortality rates. Materials and Methods: We carried out this study between 2012 and 2016. Patient information was analyzed retrospectively from records and files in the information system. Results: One hundred thirty-nine Syrian patients were hospitalized in an ICU during the study period. The most common ICU diagnoses were respiratory tract infection (29 patients: 20.9%) and trauma (26 patients: 18.7%). Of these patients, 35 were diagnosed with sepsis during their treatment in the ICU. Acinetobacter baumannii and E. coli were isolated in the culture of the patients with sepsis (17, 12, respectively). Acinetobacter baumannii was most common in tracheal cultures and E. coli in urine cultures. Additionally, seven patients were diagnosed with sepsis at their first application to the hospital. H1N1 in two, S. pneumoniae in three, H. influenzae in one, S. aureus and aspergilloma in another patient were detected. While 45 of 139 patients died, 28 of 35 patients diagnosed with sepsis died. APACHE II scores, duration of mechanical ventilation, number of days spent in ICU were all higher in the deceased patients than in the surviving patients (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001). Conclusion: Respiratory diseases were the most common causes for Syrian patients' hospitalization in the ICU and developing sepsis. For these patients, sepsis was still an important factor for mortality.