Ihab B. Abdalrahman^{1, 2}, Shaima N Elgenaid^1,, Galal Mohamedani³, Mohammed Elfatih Ahmed Yousif⁴

Introduction: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to an infection. Sepsis is associated with high mortality rate. Early recognition and administration of appropriate empirical antibiotics therapy is associated with better outcomes; lower mortality rate and reduced length of stay. Objective: To assess the impact and appropriateness of empirical antibiotic choice on the clinical outcomes of sepsis and septic shock in intensive care department. Methods: The study included 53 patients admitted to Intensive Care Units. The type of empirical antibiotic was compared with the sensitivity profile of culture results. The clinical outcome was assessed as mortality or ICU discharges. Results: In this study, 58% of the patients were females and 50.9% were above 65 years. The most common risk factor for sepsis was recent hospitalization (32%) followed by diabetes mellitus (15%). The most common site of infection was the chest (34%). The majority of patients (81.1%) received combination empirical antibiotics. Patients who received appropriate empirical antibiotics had higher ICU discharge rates (P=0.001). Mortality rate was 67.9%; more than half of deaths (58%) occurred among patients with septic shock (P= 0.001). Conclusion: The use of appropriate empirical antibiotics in the management of sepsis and septic shock would result in better patient outcomes.

admission, antibiotics, ICU, mortality, sepsis, septic shock, outcome