title: Differential characteristics of bacteraemias according to age in a community hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the characteristics of bacteraemias, according to age, in a community hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study of bacteraemias was conducted in 2011. The patients were classified into 3 age groups: younger than 65 years, 65 to 79, and 80 or older. The study collected variables on the patients and episodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study analysed 233 bacteraemias in 227 patients (23.8% in those younger than 65 years; 38.3% in the 65 to 79 age group; and 37.9% in the 80 years or older group). The most common underlying disease in all the groups was diabetes mellitus. In the most elderly patients, the Charlson index was highest, there was a lower proportion of exogenous factors, and almost 25% were severely dependent (Barthel index<20). Escherichia coli was the most common germ, and the main focus was urological. The patients aged 80 years or older had predominantly healthcare-associated infections, less severe symptoms (sepsis) (66.3%) and higher mortality (29.1%) compared with the younger patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The very elderly patients with bacteraemia presented fewer exogenous factors, greater comorbidity and a poorer functional situation. The most common focus was urological and the origin was healthcare related. Despite their less severe clinical presentation, these patients' mortality was greater, and their degree of dependence was a highly relevant independent risk factor.
authors: Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: ctoyasm@hotmail.com.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Toyas
authors: Sección de Microbiología, Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, España.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Aspiroz
authors: Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, España.
authors: R M
authors: RM
authors: Martínez-Álvarez
authors: Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, España.
authors: A I
authors: AI
authors: Ezpeleta
authors: Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, España.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Arazo
authors: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Royo Villanova, Zaragoza, España.
authors: J C
authors: JC
authors: Ferrando
keywords: Bacteraemia; Bacteriemia; Barthel index; Charlson index; Disability assessment; Edad avanzada; Elderly; Evaluación de la discapacidad; Índice de Barthel; Índice de Charlson