ICJEM
Intercontinental Journal of Emergency Medicine

The Intercontinental Journal of Emergency Medicine aims to publish issues related to all fields of emergency medicine and all specialties involved in the management of emergencies in the hospital and prehospital environment of the highest scientific and clinical value at an international level and accepts articles on these topics.

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Original Article
Prognostic significance of early lactate clearance in patients with suspected infection admitted to the intensive care unit from the emergency department
Abstract
Aims: To evaluate the association between early lactate clearance and short-term outcomes in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) from the emergency department with suspected infection.
Methods: This single-center, retrospective observational study included adult patients admitted to the Internal Medicine ICU between January 1, 2023, and June 30, 2025. Serum lactate levels measured at admission and approximately 6 hours later were used to calculate lactate clearance. Patients were classified as having inadequate (<20%) or adequate (>=20%) lactate clearance. The primary outcome was 28-day all-cause mortality.
Results: Among the 117 patients analyzed, those with inadequate lactate clearance had significantly higher 28-day mortality than those with adequate clearance (p=0.025). Inadequate lactate clearance was also associated with older age, whereas APACHE II scores, routine biochemical parameters, and arterial blood gas values did not differ significantly between groups.
Conclusion: Early lactate clearance was associated with short-term mortality in critically ill patients admitted from the emergency department with suspected infection. Serial lactate assessment may provide complementary prognostic information beyond baseline severity scores and routine laboratory findings.

Keywords : Lactate clearance, intensive care unit, suspected infection, mortality, emergency department

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Article available in :
Volume 4, Issue 1, 2026
Page : 13-17
https://doi.org/10.51271/ICJEM-0070
Article Information
Received : 04 Şub 2026
Accepted : 04 Mar 2026
Published : 07 Mar 2026
Corresponding Author :

Şeyma Taştemur: Department of Internal Medicine, Sivas Cumhuriyet University Hospital, Sivas, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Taştemur Ş, Demir E. Prognostic significance of early lactate clearance in patients with suspected infection admitted to the intensive care unit from the emergency department. Intercont J Emerg Med. 2026;4(1):13-17.

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