AUTHOR=Zhou Jianfang , Luo Xu-Ying , Chen Guang-Qiang , Li Hong-Liang , Xu Ming , Liu Shuai , Yang Yan-Lin , Shi Guangzhi , Zhou Jian-Xin , Zhang Linlin 

TITLE=Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Sepsis in Critically Ill Post-craniotomy Patients: A Single-Center Prospective Cohort Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.895991

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.895991

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: Data concerning the epidemiology of sepsis in critically ill postcraniotomy patients are scarce. This study aimed to assess the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of sepsis in this population.
Methods: This was a single-center prospective cohort study. Postcraniotomy patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were screened daily for the presence of infection and sepsis. 
Results: Of the 900 included patients, 300 developed sepsis. The cumulative incidence of sepsis was 33.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 30.2%-36.4%]. Advanced age, male, hypertension, trauma, postoperative intracranial complications, and lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on the first postoperative day were independent risk factors of sepsis. Septic patients had higher hospital mortality (13.7% vs. 8.3%, P =0.012), longer ICU length of stay (LOS) (14 vs. 4 days, P < 0.001), longer hospital LOS (31 vs. 19 days, P < 0.001), and higher total medical cost (CNY 138,394 vs 75,918, P < 0.001) than patients without sepsis. 
Conclusions: Sepsis is a frequent complication in critically ill postcraniotomy patients. Advanced age, male, hypertension, trauma, postoperative intracranial complications, and lower GCS on the first postoperative day were independent risk factors of sepsis.