title: Post-stroke infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  stroke is the main cause of disability in high-income countries, and ranks second as a cause of death worldwide. Patients with acute stroke are at risk for infections, but reported post-stroke infection rates vary considerably. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled post-stroke infection rate and its effect on outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for studies on post-stroke infection. Cohort studies and randomized clinical trials were included when post-stroke infection rate was reported. Rates of infection were pooled after assessment of heterogeneity. Associations between population- and study characteristics and infection rates were quantified. Finally, we reviewed the association between infection and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  87 studies were included involving 137817 patients. 8 studies were restricted to patients admitted on the intensive care unit (ICU). There was significant heterogeneity between studies (P < 0.001, I(2) = 97%). The overall pooled infection rate was 30% (24-36%); rates of pneumonia and urinary tract infection were 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-10%) and 10% (95%CI 9-12%). For ICU studies, these rates were substantially higher with 45% (95% CI 38-52%), 28% (95%CI 18-38%) and 20% (95%CI 0-40%). Rates of pneumonia were higher in studies that specifically evaluated infections and in consecutive studies. Studies including older patients or more females reported higher rates of urinary tract infection. Pneumonia was significantly associated with death (odds ratio 3.62 (95%CI 2.80-4.68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection complicated acute stroke in 30% of patients. Rates of pneumonia and urinary tract infection after stroke were 10%. Pneumonia was associated with death. Our study stresses the need to prevent infections in patients with stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Willeke F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Westendorp
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nederkoorn
authors.forename: Jan-Dirk
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Vermeij
authors.forename: Marcel G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Dijkgraaf
authors.forename: Diederik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van de Beek
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*