[Fever of unknown origin in the intensive care unit].

Fever is common in patients in intensive care units. Sources of fever can be infectious or non-infectious. The most common sources of infectious fever include ventilator-associated pneumonia, intravascular catheter-related infections, infection with Clostridium difficile or sinusitis. Typical examples of non-infectious fever include thromboembolic events, myocardial infarction, autoimmune disease, withdrawal symptoms or a drug-fever. Every new onset of fever prompts diagnostic decisions, treatment with antipyretics should be discussed critically.