| Treatment measure | Delayed ICU admission, all patients | Direct ICU admission, all patients | p-value# | Direct ICU admission, no IDSA/ATS major criteria | p-value¶ |
| Patients | 49 | 54 | 25 | ||
| Intubation at the ED | 0 (0) | 21 (38.9) | <0.001 | 0 (0) | NA |
| Vasopressors started at the ED | 0 (0) | 17 (31.5) | <0.001 | 0 (0) | NA |
| Fluids administered at the ED mL+ | 500 (0–1000) | 2000 (500–4000) | <0.001 | 1500 (750–3000) | <0.001 |
| Antibiotics started at the ED | 34 (69.4) | 46 (85.2) | 0.05 | 22 (88.0) | 0.08 |
| Appropriate antibiotics given on day 1§ | 45 (91.8) | 50 (92.6) | 1.00 | 25 (100.0) | 0.29 |
Data are presented as n, n (%) or median (interquartile range), unless otherwise stated. ICU: intensive care unit; IDSA: Infectious Disease Society of America; ATS: American Thoracic Society; ED: emergency department; NA: not applicable. #: refers to comparison between all patients in the delayed group and the direct group; ¶: refers to comparison between all patients in the delayed group and only patients presenting without IDSA/ATS major criteria in the direct group; +: amount expressed as the equivalent of normal saline; §: pathogens detected were susceptible to the antibiotics administered within 24 h of presentation, or no pathogens detected.