[Study of delayed skin hypersensitivity using the multitest in an intensive care unit].

A multiple puncture procedure was employed to determine delayed skin hypersensitivity in 76 patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. This new method enables the responses to 7 antigens to be measured after a single application. Patient reactivity was assessed on admission (D0) and during hospitalisation (D7 and D14). Results were analysed as a function of modifications in antigenic response during hospitalisation, and its incidence on subsequent infection and mortality. Mortality in anergic patients was 85.71 p. cent, infection being the cause in 90 p. cent of these cases. A very association was found between anergy and mortality (p less than 0.001). These results suggest that cell immunity skin tests in patients admitted for intensive care treatment can be of some value for assessing prognosis. Tests must be repeated during hospitalisation, however, as immunity defences progress, in fact--in one direction or another--up to the 14th day or even beyond, an a single test on the day of admission is insufficient for prognostic purposes.