Short- and Long-Term ICU-Acquired Immunosuppression

Abstract

Acute severe injuries such as sepsis, trauma, severe hemorrhage, major surgery or cardiac arrest account for most of the ICU admission. Thanks to advances in life support tools and knowledge, to technical progress, a majority of patients now survive the first days of their injury but are then exposed to the development of ICU-acquired infections that are associated with significant morbidity and mortality [1, 2]. The increasing burden of nosocomial infections and the emergence of multidrug resistant bacteria call to urgent progress in preventive treatment of ICU-acquired infections. Although the prolonged use of invasive medical devices and the selection of resistant bacteria remain important determinants of ICU-acquired infections, there is increasing evidence that some acquired immune dysfunctions might contribute to the increased susceptibility to secondary infections despite recovery from the primary insult.