title: Parenteral nutrition-associated bloodstream infection in an Australian teaching hospital--an 8-year retrospective study of over 11,000 PN-days.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a well-recognized complication of parenteral nutrition (PN). However, their epidemiology and clinical consequences are incompletely described.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was performed, from 2002 to 2009, of all hospital inpatients who were administered PN, outside the intensive care setting, at a major tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 780 episodes of PN administration, 120 BSIs occurred, giving an incidence of 10.0/1000 PN-days. The majority of PN-associated BSIs were classified as central line-associated (n = 98, 81.7%). Candida spp. were the most frequent pathogens. Observed BSI management revealed that over 8% of intravascular devices were inappropriately retained, over 30% of empirical antibiotic therapy was inappropriate, and 62% of antifungal therapy was delayed ≥ 48 h. All-cause hospital mortality was over 2-fold greater in patients with a PN-associated BSI compared to those without (17.9% vs 8.3%, crude odds ratio (OR) 2.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.29-4.35, p = 0.002). BSI was identified as an independent risk factor for mortality (adjusted OR 3.54, 95% CI 1.76-7.12, p < 0.001). Low baseline albumin levels and a requirement for intravenous insulin infusion (a marker of sustained hyperglycaemia) were independent risk factors for the development of PN-associated BSIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PN-associated BSI in hospital inpatients is common and is associated with mortality. The implementation of standardized evidence-based infection prevention strategies, particularly targeting IVD maintenance, is a priority. PN-associated BSI management pathways require optimization, with timely IVD removal and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Depending on local epidemiology patterns, empirical antifungal therapy should be considered.
authors.affiliation: From the 1 Infection Management Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital , Woolloongabba, Brisbane.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Townell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McDougall
authors.forename: E Geoffrey
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Playford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D058387:Candidemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies