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Published on: February 20, 2020

Inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy as a risk factor for mortality in patients with community-onset

H S Cheong1, C-I Kang, Y M Wi

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50 Ilwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases : Official Publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
|June 26, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy increases mortality in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia. Avoiding incorrect treatments is crucial for improving outcomes in this severe infection.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Clinical Microbiology

Background:

  • Community-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia is a serious infection often diagnosed in emergency departments.
  • Identifying risk factors for mortality is crucial for timely and effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify risk factors for mortality in patients with community-onset Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia.
  • To evaluate the impact of inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy on patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 106 patients with community-onset P. aeruginosa bacteraemia diagnosed in an emergency department.
  • Univariate and multivariate analyses to identify significant risk factors for 30-day mortality.

Main Results:

  • The overall 30-day mortality rate was 26.4%.
  • High Pitt bacteraemia score and inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy were significant risk factors for mortality.
  • Mortality was significantly higher in patients receiving inappropriate therapy (35.3%) compared to appropriate therapy (18.2%).

Conclusions:

  • Inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy is significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes in community-onset P. aeruginosa bacteraemia.
  • Prompt and appropriate antimicrobial treatment is essential to reduce mortality in suspected cases of P. aeruginosa bacteraemia.

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