Figure 2

Proportions of patients included in the study according to their antimicrobial therapy status. During their intensive care unit stay in each ICU represented on the vertical axis. In ICUs 1 to 16 no written empiric antibiotic protocol was used while protocols were used in units 17 to 41. I) patients never receiving any antimicrobial agents; (II) patients suspected of having bacterial infection and already receiving antibiotic treatment at the time of admission; (III) patients receiving antibiotic therapy for a known infection with identification and susceptibility testing of the pathogen at the time of admission; (IV) patients receiving new antibiotic therapy for suspicion of infection during their ICU stay.