Table 2 Site of isolation and organisms identified in patients with definite sepsis or possible sepsis^a

Lung (BAL/tracheal aspirate) (n = 20)

Escherichia coli (n = 4), Enterobacter (n = 2), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n =8), Serratia marcescens (n = 2), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 2)

Blood (n = 11)

Coagulase –ve Staphylococcus (n = 5), Enterococcus faecalis (n = 1), Escherichia coli (n = 1), Morganella marganii (n = 1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 2), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 1)

Drain fluid (pleural/ascitic) (n = 3)

Klebsiella pneumonae (n = 1), Serratia marcessans (n = 1), Streptococcus species (n = 1)

Line tip (n = 5)

Enterococcus species (n = 1), Escherichia coli (n = 2), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1)

Catheter/urine (n = 4)

Escherichia coli (n = 2), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 2)

Throat/rectal screen (n = 8)

Escherichia coli (n = 5), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1), Morganella marganii (n = 1), Salmonella species (n = 1)

Lung (n = 2)

Enterobacter (n = 1), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (n = 1)

Line tip (n = 4)

Coagulase-ve Staphylococcus (n = 2), Escherichia coli (n = 2)

Catheter/urine (n = 3)

Escherichia coli (n = 1), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1)

Throat/rectal screen (n = 3)

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 1), Escherichia coli (n = 1), Citrobacter freundii (n = 1)

No organism identified (n = 20)