Abstract
Introduction: Multi and extensively drug resistance (MDR, XDR), HIV association, these nowadays TB phenomena related to long and aggressive chemotherapy, frequent disease progressions and complications, elective and emergency surgery lead to increase in intensive care (IC) requirement for TB patients.
Aim: The aim of the study was to describe the characteristics of patients with TB requiring IC, to evaluate the risk factors for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and to identify the factors that predict ICU mortality.
Patients and methods: Patients with TB admitted to the National Research and Practical Centre for Pulmonology and TB (Centre) during one year (2010) entered the study. Demographic, clinical, radiological and bacteriological data at hospital admission and during ICU stay were recorded, and risk factors for ICU admission and death were calculated.
Results: A total of 1001 TB patients were admitted to the Centre during the study period. 280 of them had MDR-TB, 78 – XDR-TB and 20 – HIV-TB co-infection. 144 TB patients were admitted to ICU, in 43 of them admission was related to surgery. 31 patients died giving 21.5% of ICU mortality rate. Factors significantly related to ICU admission were: previous TB treatment, history of imprisonment, MDR and XDR of discharging Mycobacterium tuberculosis, HIV co-infection, and excessive alcohol use. Risk factors for ICU death were: low body mass index, pulmonary co-morbidity, disseminated disease with CNS involvement, previous ICU admission.
Conclusions: These data indicate a relatively high requirement in IC as well as high ICU mortality of TB patients. Our results can contribute to a better understanding of characteristics associated with IC and mortality for TB patients.
- © 2011 ERS
