HEMODYNAMIC-RESPONSES TO GRAM-POSITIVE VERSUS GRAM-NEGATIVE SEPSIS IN CRITICALLY ILL PATIENTS WITH AND WITHOUT CIRCULATORY SHOCK

Objective: To examine the hemodynamic patterns of critically ill patients with septicemia to evaluate their relationship to blood bacteriology. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Medical ICUs of a tertiary care medical center. Patients: Total of 59 critically ill patients with bacteremia: 33 with Gram-positive and 26 with Gram-negative bacteremia. Measurements: Hemodynamic variables and mixed venous oxygen saturation (Svo2BAR) measurements associated with the highest cardiac index measured within 72 hrs of positive blood cultures. Main Results: No significant differences in cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, oxygen extraction ratio, or Svo2BAR were observed comparing the two groups. Conclusion: We were unable to demonstrate clinically important differences between the hemodynamic responses to Gram-positive vs. Gram-negative sepsis.