Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for ICU-acquired bloodstream infections.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of diabetes as risk factor for ICU-acquired bloodstream infections (BSI).


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
A general eight-bed ICU of a tertiary hospital.


METHODS
Three hundred and forty-three consecutive patients (63 diabetic and 280 nondiabetic) admitted in the ICU.


METHODS
BSI episodes in the ICU were recorded and classified as primary, secondary, catheter-related and mixed according to strict criteria. In all patients, blood glucose was strictly controlled with a continuous insulin infusion within a range of 80-120 mg/dl.


RESULTS
One-hundred and eighteen patients (34.4%) developed at least one BSI episode. Diabetic patients had an increased probability of developing at least one BSI episode compared with nondiabetic patients (hazard ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval 1.04-2.64, P = 0.034) in a Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusting for age, gender, admission category and APACHE II score at admission in the ICU and comorbidities.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite strict glycemic control, diabetic patients have a 1.7-fold probability of developing an ICU-acquired BSI compared to nondiabetic subjects.
Michalia
M
M
Intensive Care Unit, Thriassio General Hospital of Eleusis, Magoula, Attika, Greece.
Kompoti
M
M
Koutsikou
A
A
Paridou
A
A
Giannopoulou
P
P
Trikka-Graphakos
E
E
Clouva-Molyvdas
P
P
D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin