Diarrhoea in critical care is rarely infective in origin associated with increased length of stay and higher mortality

摘要

Diarrhoea, defined as > 3 loose or liquid stools per day, affects 9.7–41% of intensive care unit patients, negatively impacting on patient dignity, intensifying nursing workload and increasing morbidity. Its pathogenesis is poorly understood, but infective agents, intensive care unit therapies (such as enteral feed) and critical illness changes in the gut microbiome are thought to play a role. We analysed a consecutive cohort of 3737 patients admitted to a mixed general intensive care unit. Diarrhoea prevalence was lower than previously reported (5.3%), rarely infective in origin (6.5%) and associated with increased length of stay (median (inter-quartile range) 2.3 (1.0–5.0) days vs. 10 days (5.0–22.0), p