Comparison of severity of illness scoring systems for patients with nosocomial bloodstream infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa
2006

Comparing Scoring Systems for Bloodstream Infections

Sample size: 63 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Marra Alexandre R, Bearman Gonzalo ML, Wenzel Richard P, Edmond Michael B

Primary Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center

Hypothesis

Which severity of illness scoring system best predicts mortality in patients with nosocomial bloodstream infection due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa?

Conclusion

SAPS II and APACHE II are more accurate than the SOFA score for predicting mortality in this group of patients at day -1 of BSI.

Supporting Evidence

  • The crude mortality rate for P. aeruginosa BSI was found to be 47.6%.
  • SAPS II had the best sensitivity at 93.3%, while APACHE II had the best specificity at 87.9%.
  • The study included only monomicrobial bloodstream infections in ICU patients.

Takeaway

Doctors used three scoring systems to see which one could best predict if patients with a certain infection would survive. They found two scores worked better than the third.

Methodology

A historical cohort study was performed on 63 adults in intensive care units with P. aeruginosa monomicrobial nosocomial bloodstream infection.

Limitations

The study is retrospective, applied scoring systems daily despite their intended use after 24 hours of ICU care, and is limited to a single center.

Participant Demographics

Mean age of participants was 56 years, with 60% male and various underlying conditions.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

CI95% 2.51–70.49 for SAPS II; CI95% 3.12–50.09 for APACHE II

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2334-6-132

Want to read the original?

Access the complete publication on the publisher's website

View Original Publication