An Epidemiological Survey of Sepsis in a Tertiary Academic Hospital from Southwestern Romania

<i>Background and Objectives</i>: Sepsis is one of the major causes of death in modern society. This study is part of the FUSE (Functional Genomics in Severe Sepsis) project under the Human Functional Genomics Romania initiative. Our aim was to assess the epidemiology of sepsis in a tertiary academic hospital in southwestern Romania. <i>Materials and methods:</i> The study enrolled 184 patients with severe infections between May 2017 and November 2019, following the Sepsis-2 guidelines (SIRS criteria). <i>Results:</i> The present cohort of community-acquired severe infections shows respiratory and urinary tract as main sites of severe infection. The demographic and clinical characteristics of this Romanian study group are in line with those of other severe infection European cohorts. However, the predominance of confirmed <i>Clostridium difficile</i> cases represents a strong deviation, raising significant concerns for the communities to which the patients belong. <i>Conclusions</i>: Sepsis, with its complex pathophysiology and clinical presentation, remains one of the most daunting global health issues. In our cohort, the high number of <i>Clostridium difficile</i> cases prompts high vigilance and immediate intervention.