Development, impact and outcomes of the Hull Bacteraemia Service

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Outcomes

Background:

• Bacteraemia (bloodstream infection) is a major cause of mortality and significant healthcare costs.
• Consultation with infection specialists may lead to improved patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients managed by a novel bacteraemia service.
• To assess the economic impact and benchmark the performance of the new service.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective data review of patient consultations.
• Economic analysis and outcome benchmarking were conducted.
• Data collected at the time of consultation formed the basis of the review.

Main Results:

• The service reviewed 151 patients over 18 months, with Staphylococcus aureus and central venous lines being common.
• Antibiotic prescriptions were altered in 62% of patients, and 61% received additional investigations.
• The 30-day mortality rate was 19%; overall mortality was comparable to or lower than published data.

Conclusions:

• The implemented bacteraemia service model appears suitable for managing patients with bloodstream infections.
• Further research is needed to confirm the cost-effectiveness of this management approach.