To report the characteristics and outcomes of patients with sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) compared to patients with nonkidney injury (non-KI).

Retrospective study of all patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU of a university hospital within a 12-month time period. Data were obtained from the University Health Consortium database and a chart review of the electronic medical records.

We identified 39 cases of ESRD, 106 cases of AKI, and 103 cases of non-KI. Intensive care unit mortality was 15.4% for ESRD, 30.2% for AKI, and 13.6% for non-KI (P < .01). Hospital mortality was 20.5% for ESRD, 32.1% for AKI, and 13.6% for non-KI (P < .01). Early AKI and late AKI had an ICU mortality of 24.4% versus 50% (P <.01), hospital mortality of 26.8% versus 50% (P = .03), ICU length of stay (LOS) of 3 and 6 days (P = .04), and hospital LOS of 7 and 12.5 days (P <.01), respectively.

Patients with sepsis having AKI have a higher mortality rate than those with ESRD and non-KI. Hospital and ICU mortality rates for patients with ESRD were similar to non-KI patients. Late AKI compared to early AKI had a higher mortality and longer LOS.