Profile of patients with sepsis admitted in the intensive care unit of a teaching hospital in Brazil

The study aimed to characterize patients with sepsis in a hospital environment. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative study, carried out from October 2017 to April 2018, in a teaching hospital in the Northeast Region of Brazil. The sample consisted of 74 patients admitted to the infirmary and the general intensive care unit. Among those surveyed, 54.1% of males, ages ranged from 20 to 90 years, with a mean of 52.9 years. In relation to the outbreak of infection, the most frequent was pulmonary (31.1%), followed by abdominal (17.6%) and urological (12.2%). Regarding the outcome, 24.3% died, followed by 17.6% who were discharged from hospital. According to the analyzed data, it was observed that sepsis affects mainly male patients, old-aged, being the infection originated mainly in the pulmonary focus and as the main outcome the death. To know the clinical characteristics of patients with sepsis may help to guide actions in the hospital environment, since knowing the profile of patients favors the adoption of criteria and specific assistance goals for these cases. Thus, it is expected that the results of this study may stimulate the implementation of care measures aimed at preventing sepsis and translate into improved quality of care provided to patients.