Korean J Med.  2015 Jun;88(6):658-662. 10.3904/kjm.2015.88.6.658.

Evaluation of Fever in the Intensive Care Unit

• Yun NR

• KMID: 2269074
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjm.2015.88.6.658

Abstract

Fever is a common and serious problem in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU), but its cause is sometimes difficult to determine. Such fevers may be infectious or noninfectious. Infectious causes include ventilator-associated pneumonia, intravascular catheter-related infection, surgical site infection, catheter-related urinary tract infection, and Clostridium difficile infection. Noninfectious causes include transfusion reaction, drug fever, acute pancreatitis, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, adrenal insufficiency, and hyperthyroidism. The medical history should be reviewed carefully and a physical examination performed whenever fever occurs in patients in the ICU.

Keyword

Fever; Intensive care units; Infection; Anti-bacterial agents

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Insufficiency
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Blood Group Incompatibility
Catheter-Related Infections
Clostridium difficile
Fever*
Humans
Hyperthyroidism
Intensive Care Units*
Pancreatitis
Physical Examination
Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated
Pulmonary Embolism
Urinary Tract Infections
Venous Thrombosis
Anti-Bacterial Agents