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The inflammatory response characteristic of sepsis is thought to lead to a period of relative immunosuppression and late mortality linked to secondary infections. Aiming to better define this hypothesis, Dutch investigators undertook a prospective, observational study of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) to assess the incidence of and risk factors for secondary infections in patients with sepsis. They also assessed changes in blood leukocyte gene expression associated with secondary infections.
The investigators analyzed 3640 ICU admissions, of which 1719 involved patients admitted with sepsis. The incidence of secondary infections was 13.5% in patients admitted with sepsis and 15.1% in patients with a noninfectious admitting diagnosis…