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EPISEPSIS: a reappraisal of the epidemiology and outcome of severe sepsis in French intensive care units

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Abstract

Objective

Ten years ago 8.4% of patients in French intensive care units (ICUs) were found to have severe sepsis or shock and 56% died in the hospital. As novel therapies for severe sepsis are emerging, updated epidemiological information is required.

Design and setting

An inception cohort study conducted in 206 ICUs of randomly selected hospitals over a 2-week period in 2001, including all patients meeting criteria for clinically or microbiologically documented severe sepsis (with ≥1 organ dysfunction).

Measurements and results

Among 3738 admissions, 546 (14.6%) patients experienced severe sepsis or shock, of which 30% were ICU-acquired. The median age of patients was 65 years, and 54.1% had at least one chronic organ system dysfunction. The median (range) Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) at onset of severe sepsis were 48 (2–129) and 9 (1–24), respectively. Mortality was 35% at 30 days; at 2 months the mortality rate was 41.9%, and 11.4% of patients remained hospitalized. The median (range) hospital stay was 25 (0–112) days in survivors and 7 (0–90) days in non-survivors. Chronic liver and heart failure, acute renal failure and shock, SAPS II at onset of severe sepsis and 24-h total SOFA scores were the independent risk factors most strongly associated with death.

Conclusions

Although the attack rate of severe sepsis in French ICUs appears to have increased over the past decade, its associated mortality has decreased, suggesting improved management of patients. Severe sepsis incurs considerable resources use, and implementation of effective management strategies and continued research efforts are needed.

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Acknowledgements

The EPISEPSIS Study Group is indebted to S. Lancrenon, MSc, and C. Rousseau, MSc, (Sylia-Stat, Bourg-la-Reine, France) for data management and analysis. This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Lilly-France.

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Authors and Affiliations

    Consortia

    The EPISEPSIS Study Group

    Additional information

    The EPISEPSIS Study Group included:

    Writing Committee: C. Brun-Buisson, MD, P. Meshaka, MD, P. Pinton, MD, B. Vallet, MD

    Steering Committee: C. Brun-Buisson, MD, P. Meshaka, MD, P. Pinton, MD, P. Rodie-Talbere, MD, B. Vallet, MD, J.R. Zahar MD

    Investigators participating in the EPISEPSIS study are listed in the Appendix (see the ESM)

    Presented in part at the 15th Congress of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, Barcelona, September 2002 (Intensive Care Med 28 (Suppl 1):S142, 548).

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    The EPISEPSIS Study Group. EPISEPSIS: a reappraisal of the epidemiology and outcome of severe sepsis in French intensive care units. Intensive Care Med 30, 580–588 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-003-2121-4

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-003-2121-4

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