Reasons for Hospitalisation, Sepsis Development and Mortality Among Syrian Patients in an Intensive Care Unit

Objective: This study aims to investigate the reasons for the hospitalisation of Syrian patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), the development of sepsis, relevant causes of pathogens and mortality rates. Materials and Methods: We conducted this study between 2012 and 2016. Patient information was analysed retrospectively from records and files in the information system. Results: During the study period, 139 Syrian patients were hospitalised in an ICU. The most common ICU diagnoses were respiratory tract infection (29 patients: 20.9%) and trauma (26 patients: 18.7%). Of these patients, 35 were diagnosed with sepsis during their treatment in the ICU. Acinetobacter baumannii and Escherichia coli were isolated in the culture of the patients with sepsis (17, 12, respectively). A. baumannii was most common in tracheal cultures and E. coli in urine cultures. In addition, seven patients were diagnosed with sepsis on their first admission to the hospital. H1N1 was detected in two patients, Streptococcus pneumoniae in three, Haemophilus influenzae in one, and Staphylococcus aureus and aspergilloma in another patient. While 45 of 139 patients died, 28 of 35 patients diagnosed with sepsis died. Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, the duration of mechanical ventilation, the number of days spent in the ICU was all higher in the deceased patients than in the surviving patients (p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Respiratory diseases were the most common causes of Syrian patients' hospitalisation in the ICU and for developing sepsis. For these patients, sepsis remained an important factor for mortality.