title: [Bacteremia in the elderly: associated and prognostic factors].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacteremia is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and its prevalence increases with age. The objective of the present investigation was to know the epidemiology, associated factors and prognosis in patients with bacteremia in our environment and in relation with age.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and twenty-nine episodes of bacteremia were prospectively studied; 97 (42%) cases corresponded to patients aged > 70 years. The prognostic factors were evaluated by the univariate and multivariate analysis in the whole cohort and univariate study of associated factors for an age > 70 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The etiology, infectious sources, nosocomial acquisition, and complications apart from shock (p = 0.02) were similar in the elderly patients. The associations of diabetes (p = 0.05), COPD and/or heart disease (p = 0.01), and exitus were higher for patients > 70 years. The main independent prognostic factor in the series was disseminated intravascular coagulation (p < 0.001, multivariate OR 14.2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients older than 70 years have a higher incidence of shock and mortality associated with infection. The higher overall mortality rate in the series was associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and multisystemic failure irrespective of age.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital General San Jorge, Huesca.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rubio Félix
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aznar Munoz
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martín Algora
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egido Murciano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrero Cáncer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mairal Claver
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rezusta López
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: Bacteriemia en el anciano: factores asociados y pronósticos.