The Severity of Injury and the Extent of Hemorrhagic Shock Predict the Incidence of Infectious Complications in Trauma Patients

Background: Trauma patients are at high risk of developing systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the severity of injury and the extent of hemorrhagic shock at admission on the incidence of SIRS, infection and septic complications. Methods: A total of 972 patients who had an injury severity score (ISS) of >= 17, survived more than 72 h, and were admitted to a level I trauma center within 24 h after trauma were included in this retrospective analysis. SIRS, sepsis and infection rates were measured in patients with different severities of injury as assessed by ISS, or with various degrees of hemorrhagic shock according to ATLS(R) guidelines, and were compared using both uni- and multivariate analysis. Results: Infection rates and septic complications increase significantly (p < 0.001) with higher ISS. Severe hemorrhagic shock on admission is associated with a higher rate of infection (72.8%) and septic complications (43.2%) compared to mild hemorrhagic shock (43.4%, p < 0.001 and 21.7%, P < 0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The severity of injury and the severity of hemorrhagic shock are risk factors for infectious and septic complications. Early diagnostic and adequate therapeutic work up with planned early "second look" interventions in such high-risk patients may help to reduce these common posttraumatic complications.