Bloodstream infections in a community hospital: a 25-year follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the current status of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in a community hospital as part of a 25-year longitudinal study.


METHODS
Retrospective descriptive epidemiologic study.


METHODS
Community teaching hospital.


METHODS
All inpatients in 1998 with a positive blood culture who met the CDC NNIS System case definition of BSI.


METHODS
Cases were stratified by underlying illness category using case mix adjustment categories (after McCabe) and reviewed for associations among mortality, underlying illness severity, and multiple clinical and laboratory parameters.


RESULTS
Of 19,289 patients discharged in 1998, 185 had an episode of infection documented by blood culture (96 cases per 10,000 inpatients). BSI was twice as frequent in patients 65 years and older compared with younger patients. BSIs caused or contributed to the deaths of 22 patients for an overall case-fatality rate of 11.9% compared with 20.7% in 1982 (P = .02). Striking decreases were noted for in-hospital patient mortality in 1998 for BSIs with ultimately and rapidly fatal underlying illnesses (P = .02 and P < .10, respectively). Primary bacteremia decreased compared with 1982. Antibiotic use was vigorous, but resistance was modest in both nosocomial and community-acquired organisms and had changed little from 1982 and 1987.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with previous studies, case-fatality rates in patients with BSI were substantially lower in rapidly fatal and ultimately fatal underlying illness categories. Antibiotic use was extensive but prompt and appropriate. Microorganism resistance to antibiotics changed little from the 1980s.
Scheckler
William E
WE
University of Wisconsin Medical School and St. Marys Hospital Medical Center, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.
Bobula
James A
JA
Beamsley
Mark B
MB
Hadden
Scott T
ST
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D017723:Drug Utilization Review; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D015994:Incidence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents