Introduction: 
74% cases of fever is due to sepsis in hospitalized patients [1] and it has been observed that fever occurring in sepsis may be associated with a survival benefit [2]. The aim of this study was to specify whether a relation exist between the body temperature collected during the regulation call to the SAMU center 15 and the ICU admission of severe septic patients. 

Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational study between April 01 and May 31 2011 based on the reports collected during the regulation call to the SAMU center in Paris. All patients presenting sepsis criteria, as defined by the common consensus conference SFAR-SRLF 2005 [3], were included in the study. The primary outcome was the admission in intensive care unit (ICU).

Results: Over the study period and among the 30 642 reports received, one hundred sixty-three patients fulfilled severe sepsis criteria were included. Fifteen patients (9%) were admitted in an ICU and 3 (20%) died at D28. The median body temperature collected during the regulation call was 37.9±1.2°C for patients admitted in an ICU and 38.5±1.1°C (p<0.014) for those non-admitted in an ICU.
A significant association between the temperature retreived during the regulation call and the ICU admission, was observed, OR=0.52 [0.38-0.70], p=4.10^-4. Fever (temperature above 38.2°C) was negatively associated with ICU admission, OR=0.15 [0.04-0.54], p=0.004. Hypothermia (temperature below 36.4°C) was positively associated with ICU admission, OR=4.05 [1.29-12.67], p=0.02.

Conclusion:  Sepsis is a complex multifactorial entity with individual and collective clinical and biological involvment for organizational and economic concerns. In this retrospective monocentric study, we observed an association between the body temperature collected during the regulation call of the SAMU center 15-Paris and ICU admissions. Fever, a frequently used criterion in the screening and the diagnosis of sepsis is not associated with ICU admissions unlikely to hypothermia. Further studies should be performed to further clarify these preliminary results.
Reference:
[1] Kaul et al.  J Gen Intern Med. 2006 
[2] Walter et al. Critical Care
[3] Pottecher et al. Crit Care. 2006.

Body temperature retrieved/collected during the SAMU regulation call: a link with ICU admission of severe septic patients