Septic shock without documented infection: an uncommon entity with a high mortality

Objectives: To determine whether patients with clinically identified infect ion have the same outcome as patients with apparent sepsis but no identifie d infectious source. Design: Retrospective analysis of patient data. Patients: All patients treated with septic shock in a 31-bed intensive care unit (ICU) over a 3-year period. Results: Data from 227 patients were analysed. Eighty-seven percent had a c linically identified source of infection. ICU mortality was higher in septi c shock patients without a clinically identified source of infection than i n those with an identified source of infection (86% versus 66%, p < 0.05). Conclusions: A small number of patients presenting with septic shock have n o clinically identified infection. These patients have a higher mortality r ate than patients in whom an infection is identified.