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A prospective study of epidemiology characteristics and outcomes of bloodstream infections in older patients
Author(s) -
Moschou Aikaterini,
Ioannou Petros,
Maraki Sofia,
Koutroumpakis Filippos,
Mamaloukaki Maria,
Bikis Charalampos,
Samonis George,
Papadakis John A.,
Kofteridis Diamantis P.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australasian journal on ageing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.63
H-Index - 34
eISSN - 1741-6612
pISSN - 1440-6381
DOI - 10.1111/ajag.12881
Subject(s) - medicine , epidemiology , observational study , septic shock , empirical treatment , prospective cohort study , intensive care medicine , health care , emergency medicine , mortality rate , shock (circulatory) , pediatrics , sepsis , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , economics , biology , economic growth
Objective This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in older patients and describe the differences between community‐acquired, hospital‐acquired and health care–associated BSIs. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and outcomes of BSIs were recorded. Results During a four‐year period, 113 BSIs were recorded. Of them, 42% occurred in male patients; patients’ mean age was 80 years. BSIs were community‐acquired in 76% of patients, hospital‐acquired in 12% and health care–associated in 12%. The most commonly isolated bacteria were E coli and K pneumoniae . Thirty‐day mortality from detection of BSIs was 27%. Patients with fever, without septic shock and with appropriate empirical treatment were less likely to die. Conclusion Community‐acquired, health care–associated and hospital‐acquired BSIs had different presentation, microbiology and outcomes. Older patients had a high mortality. The absence of fever, inappropriate empirical treatment and septic shock were independent mortality predictors.