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Sepsis in the Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Congo in 2024: Epidemiological Aspects and Factors Associed with Death

Received: 12 September 2026     Accepted: 28 September 2026     Published: 23 October 2026
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Abstract

Sepsis is a major public health problem in the world, especially with the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria. The frequency of admission of septic patients to intensive care is gradually increasing. In Africa, few data are available on sepsis, and the factors associated with sepsis mortality remain unclear. The aim was to analyze the epidemiological profile and factors associated with sepsis mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) in the Republic of Congo. This was a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort study covering the period from March 1 to August 31, 2024. It took place in four ICUs in the Republic of Congo. We included patients admitted for sepsis ICUs of the centers selected for the study, aged at least 18 years, presenting at least two elements of SIRS and/or a qSOFA ≥ 2, associated with a presumptive or confirmed infection. Study variables were: sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, SOFA score, therapeutic and outcomes. Data analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS version 20 software. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean with standard deviation, and qualitative variables as numbers with frequencies. We performed two types of analysis: a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with mortality. A total of 156 patients were registered, representing a frequency of 17.8%. The median age was 45 years, with a sex ratio of 1.02. The majority of patients (64%) had comorbidities domined by high blood pression and diabetes mellitus. The main reasons for admission were impaired consciousness (57.7%) and hemodynamic instability (40.4%). The most common sites were digestive and neuromeningeal in 30.1% respectively. Patients had a GCS between 9 -12 (39.1%), arterial hypotension (41%), SpO2 ≤ 92% (25.6%) and diuresis < 0.5 ml/kg/h (48.1%). Patients had a SOFA score (7-14) in 62.8%. The two most frequent organ failures were neurological (63.5%) and renal (57.7%). Double antibiotherapy was used in the majority of cases (47.9%). We recorded a mortality rate of 33.3%. Median length of stay was 3 days [range: 2-7 days]. Factors associated with mortality were altered consciousness (ORa: 2.82; adjusted p = 0.008), surgical treatment (ORa: 3.57; adjusted p = 0.032), mechanical ventilation as therapeutic means (ORa: 2.15; adjusted p = 0.006), SOFA score 11-14 (ORa: 2.68; p = 0.002) and organ failure (ORa: 0.08; adjusted p = 0.043). Sepsis is common in ICUs in the Republic of Congo. The profile is that of a young adult, presenting with a severe infection of digestive or neuromeningeal origin with neurological or renal failure. Mortality is high.

Published in International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine (Volume 14, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16
Page(s) 162-172
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Sepsis, Epidemiology, Associated Factors, Mortality, Intensive Care, Congo

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Marie, E., Mayick, M. E. M. C., Zozer, N., Gilles, N. O., Ghislaine, B., et al. (2026). Sepsis in the Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Congo in 2024: Epidemiological Aspects and Factors Associed with Death. International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine, 14(2), 162-172. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16

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    ACS Style

    Marie, E.; Mayick, M. E. M. C.; Zozer, N.; Gilles, N. O.; Ghislaine, B., et al. Sepsis in the Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Congo in 2024: Epidemiological Aspects and Factors Associed with Death. Int. J. Anesth. Clin. Med. 2026, 14(2), 162-172. doi: 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16

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    AMA Style

    Marie E, Mayick MEMC, Zozer N, Gilles NO, Ghislaine B, et al. Sepsis in the Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Congo in 2024: Epidemiological Aspects and Factors Associed with Death. Int J Anesth Clin Med. 2026;14(2):162-172. doi: 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16,
      author = {Elombila Marie and Mpoy Emy Monkessa Christ Mayick and Nakavoua Zozer and Niengo Outsouta Gilles and Bayoundoula Ghislaine and Nde Ngala Marina Aurole and Iwoba Rebet Sarrah Armanda and Kibamba Nieme Isaac and Boyewi Jeancia and Koumou Regis and Otiobanda Gilbert Fabrice},
      title = {Sepsis in the Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Congo in 2024: Epidemiological Aspects and Factors Associed with Death},
      journal = {International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine},
      volume = {14},
      number = {2},
      pages = {162-172},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijacm.20261402.16},
      abstract = {Sepsis is a major public health problem in the world, especially with the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria. The frequency of admission of septic patients to intensive care is gradually increasing. In Africa, few data are available on sepsis, and the factors associated with sepsis mortality remain unclear. The aim was to analyze the epidemiological profile and factors associated with sepsis mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) in the Republic of Congo. This was a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort study covering the period from March 1 to August 31, 2024. It took place in four ICUs in the Republic of Congo. We included patients admitted for sepsis ICUs of the centers selected for the study, aged at least 18 years, presenting at least two elements of SIRS and/or a qSOFA ≥ 2, associated with a presumptive or confirmed infection. Study variables were: sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, SOFA score, therapeutic and outcomes. Data analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS version 20 software. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean with standard deviation, and qualitative variables as numbers with frequencies. We performed two types of analysis: a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with mortality. A total of 156 patients were registered, representing a frequency of 17.8%. The median age was 45 years, with a sex ratio of 1.02. The majority of patients (64%) had comorbidities domined by high blood pression and diabetes mellitus. The main reasons for admission were impaired consciousness (57.7%) and hemodynamic instability (40.4%). The most common sites were digestive and neuromeningeal in 30.1% respectively. Patients had a GCS between 9 -12 (39.1%), arterial hypotension (41%), SpO2 ≤ 92% (25.6%) and diuresis < 0.5 ml/kg/h (48.1%). Patients had a SOFA score (7-14) in 62.8%. The two most frequent organ failures were neurological (63.5%) and renal (57.7%). Double antibiotherapy was used in the majority of cases (47.9%). We recorded a mortality rate of 33.3%. Median length of stay was 3 days [range: 2-7 days]. Factors associated with mortality were altered consciousness (ORa: 2.82; adjusted p = 0.008), surgical treatment (ORa: 3.57; adjusted p = 0.032), mechanical ventilation as therapeutic means (ORa: 2.15; adjusted p = 0.006), SOFA score 11-14 (ORa: 2.68; p = 0.002) and organ failure (ORa: 0.08; adjusted p = 0.043). Sepsis is common in ICUs in the Republic of Congo. The profile is that of a young adult, presenting with a severe infection of digestive or neuromeningeal origin with neurological or renal failure. Mortality is high.},
     year = {2026}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Sepsis in the Intensive Care Units in the Republic of Congo in 2024: Epidemiological Aspects and Factors Associed with Death
    AU  - Elombila Marie
    AU  - Mpoy Emy Monkessa Christ Mayick
    AU  - Nakavoua Zozer
    AU  - Niengo Outsouta Gilles
    AU  - Bayoundoula Ghislaine
    AU  - Nde Ngala Marina Aurole
    AU  - Iwoba Rebet Sarrah Armanda
    AU  - Kibamba Nieme Isaac
    AU  - Boyewi Jeancia
    AU  - Koumou Regis
    AU  - Otiobanda Gilbert Fabrice
    Y1  - 2026/10/23
    PY  - 2026
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16
    T2  - International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine
    JF  - International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine
    JO  - International Journal of Anesthesia and Clinical Medicine
    SP  - 162
    EP  - 172
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2997-2698
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijacm.20261402.16
    AB  - Sepsis is a major public health problem in the world, especially with the emergence of multi-resistant bacteria. The frequency of admission of septic patients to intensive care is gradually increasing. In Africa, few data are available on sepsis, and the factors associated with sepsis mortality remain unclear. The aim was to analyze the epidemiological profile and factors associated with sepsis mortality in intensive care units (ICUs) in the Republic of Congo. This was a prospective, multicenter, longitudinal cohort study covering the period from March 1 to August 31, 2024. It took place in four ICUs in the Republic of Congo. We included patients admitted for sepsis ICUs of the centers selected for the study, aged at least 18 years, presenting at least two elements of SIRS and/or a qSOFA ≥ 2, associated with a presumptive or confirmed infection. Study variables were: sociodemographic, clinical, paraclinical, SOFA score, therapeutic and outcomes. Data analysis was performed using IBM-SPSS version 20 software. Quantitative variables were expressed as mean with standard deviation, and qualitative variables as numbers with frequencies. We performed two types of analysis: a univariate analysis and a multivariate analysis to identify factors associated with mortality. A total of 156 patients were registered, representing a frequency of 17.8%. The median age was 45 years, with a sex ratio of 1.02. The majority of patients (64%) had comorbidities domined by high blood pression and diabetes mellitus. The main reasons for admission were impaired consciousness (57.7%) and hemodynamic instability (40.4%). The most common sites were digestive and neuromeningeal in 30.1% respectively. Patients had a GCS between 9 -12 (39.1%), arterial hypotension (41%), SpO2 ≤ 92% (25.6%) and diuresis < 0.5 ml/kg/h (48.1%). Patients had a SOFA score (7-14) in 62.8%. The two most frequent organ failures were neurological (63.5%) and renal (57.7%). Double antibiotherapy was used in the majority of cases (47.9%). We recorded a mortality rate of 33.3%. Median length of stay was 3 days [range: 2-7 days]. Factors associated with mortality were altered consciousness (ORa: 2.82; adjusted p = 0.008), surgical treatment (ORa: 3.57; adjusted p = 0.032), mechanical ventilation as therapeutic means (ORa: 2.15; adjusted p = 0.006), SOFA score 11-14 (ORa: 2.68; p = 0.002) and organ failure (ORa: 0.08; adjusted p = 0.043). Sepsis is common in ICUs in the Republic of Congo. The profile is that of a young adult, presenting with a severe infection of digestive or neuromeningeal origin with neurological or renal failure. Mortality is high.
    VL  - 14
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo;Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo;Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo;Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

  • Polyvalent Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo;Faculty of Health Sciences, Marien Ngouabi University, Brazzaville, Republic of Congo

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