Epidemiology of sepsis in patients with traumatic injury

Abstract

To characterize the epidemiology of sepsis in trauma. Analysis of a prospectively collected administrative database (Pennsylvania trauma registry). All trauma centers in the state of Pennsylvania (n = 28) All patients (n = 30,303) with blunt or penetrating injury admitted to Pennsylvania trauma centers over a 2-yr period (January 1996–December 1997). None. Incidence of sepsis in trauma, independent predictors of sepsis, and associated mortality were evaluated. Analyses controlled for age, gender, preexisting disease, injury type, Revised Trauma Score, Injury Severity Score, and admission vital signs. Sepsis occurred in 2% of all patients and was associated with a significant increase in mortality (23.1% vs. 7.6%, p p This study reports the incidence of sepsis and its associated mortality and critical care resource utilization in a large, state-wide population-based trauma registry. Increasing injury severity, measured by Injury Severity Score, was a significant independent predictor of sepsis in trauma and was associated with increased intensive care unit resource utilization and mortality. These results suggest that future studies should attempt to delineate interventional strategies to prevent sepsis in trauma patients with moderate and severe injury, given their significantly increased risk.