Mortality in Community-Acquired Sepsis and Infections in the Faroe Islands-A Prospective Observational Study.

The aim of this study was to collect data and analyze mortality among patients hospitalized with community-acquired infections in the Faroe Islands. A prospective observational study was conducted in the Medical Department of the National Hospital of the Faroe Islands from October 2013 to April 2015. Cumulative all-cause, in-hospital, short-term, intermediate-term and long-term mortality rates were calculated. Kaplan-Meier survival curves comparing infection-free patients with infected patients of all severities and different age groups are presented. A log-rank test was used to compare groups. Mortality hazard ratios were calculated for subgroups using Cox regression multivariable models. There were 1309 patients without infection and 755 patients with infection. There were 51% female and 49% male patients. Mean age was 62.73 ± 19.71. Cumulative all-cause mortality and in-hospital mortality were highest in more severe forms of infection. This pattern remained the same for short-term mortality in the model adjusted for sex and age, while there were no significant differences among the various infection groups in regard to intermediate- or long-term survival after adjustment. Overall and short-term mortality rates were highest among those with severe manifestations of infection and those with infection compared to infection-free patients.

Focus of infection and microbiological etiology in community-acquired infections in hospitalized adult patients in the Faroe Islands.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to gain national data on the clinical and microbiological characteristics of community-acquired infections in the Faroe Islands and to compare these data with data from other geographical areas. METHODS: A prospective, observational study involving all patients > = 16 years admitted at the Department of Medicine at the National Hospital, Torshavn, Faroe Islands from October 2013 until April 2015. RESULTS: Of 5279 admissions, 1054 cases were with community-acquired infection and were included in the study. Out of these 1054 cases, 471 did not meet the criteria for SIRS (Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome), while the remaining 583 cases had sepsis. Mean age was 68 years. At least one comorbidity was found in 80% of all cases. Documented infections were present in 75%, and a plausible pathogen was identified in 29% of all cases. The most common gram-positive pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus, and the most frequent gram-negative pathogen was Escherichia coli. The most common focus of infection was lower respiratory tract, followed by urinary tract, and skin-soft tissue/bone-joint. Bacteremia was found in 10% of the cases. CONCLUSION: In community-acquired infections in hospitalized patients in the Faroe Islands the lower respiratory tract and the urinary tract were the most frequent foci of infection. Gram-negative pathogens and Escherichia coli were the most frequent pathogens in infection without Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome, in sepsis and in bacteremia. Our data on clinical characteristics and microbiological etiology provide new information which may be used to develop local guidelines for the managing of patients admitted with community-acquired infections.

Epidemiology of community-acquired sepsis in the Faroe Islands - a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the study was to gather nation-wide epidemiological and clinical data in order to characterize community-acquired sepsis in the Faroe Islands, and to compare these data with epidemiological studies performed in other geographical areas. METHODS: A prospective, observational study conducted from October 2013 until April 2015 to characterize sepsis, and to calculate incidence rates for community-acquired sepsis of any severity, community-acquired severe sepsis, community-acquired septic shock and community-acquired sepsis without community-acquired severe sepsis or community-acquired septic shock. RESULTS: Of 5279 admissions, 583 cases fulfilled the criteria for community-acquired sepsis of any severity. The mean age of all cases was 67.6 ± 18.3 years. Men accounted for 298 (51.5%) admissions. Charlson comorbidity index was greater than 2 in 247 (42.4%) cases. The incidence of community-acquired sepsis of any severity was 1414/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 1374-1440). The incidence rate for community-acquired sepsis without community-acquired severe sepsis and community-acquired septic shock was 719/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 695-742), for community-acquired severe sepsis 644/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 623-668), for community-acquired septic shock 51/100,000 person-years at risk (95% CI, 45-58). The highest incidence was seen in elderly patients. CONCLUSION: The incidence rates were slightly higher in men and increased with age, especially in those older than 85 years. Incidence rates of sepsis of any severity were higher than previously published from other countries.