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Risk and prognostic factors among patients with bacteremia due to Eggerthella lenta

Anilrudh A Venugopal1, Susanna Szpunar, Leonard B Johnson

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA. anilrudh.venugopal@stjohn.org

Anaerobe
|June 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Eggerthella lenta bacteremia, often from abdominal sources, carries a high mortality risk, particularly in bedridden patients. Key risk factors for 30-day mortality include lack of fever and ICU admission.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Eggerthella lenta is a Gram-positive, anaerobic, commensal bacterium.
  • It can cause serious infections like bacteremia, often originating from abdominal or soft tissue infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors associated with Eggerthella lenta bacteremia.
  • To identify predictors of mortality in patients with this infection.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of patient data.
  • Clinical data review including patient demographics, source of infection, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Eggerthella lenta bacteremia is associated with a high mortality rate.
  • Patients are often bedridden, indicating a vulnerable patient population.
  • Absence of fever at presentation and the need for intensive care unit (ICU) stay are significant risk factors for 30-day mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Eggerthella lenta bacteremia is a severe condition requiring prompt recognition and management.
  • Clinical factors such as lack of fever and ICU admission can help identify high-risk patients needing closer monitoring and aggressive treatment to improve survival outcomes.

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