Shaking chills and high body temperature predict bacteremia especially among elderly patients

The difference in predictors of bacteremia between elderly and non-elderly patients is unclear despite the aging of society. The objective was to determine predictors of bacteremia among elderly patients aged 80 years and older compared to non-elderly patients aged 18 to 79 years.

A referral hospital-based retrospective descriptive study from April 2012 to March 2013 in Okinawa, Japan. All enrolled patients were adults suspected of having bacterial infection who had been newly admitted into the Division of Infectious Diseases. HIV- infected patients were excluded. Exposures were a history of shaking chills, prior antibiotics use within 48 hours, vital signs, and laboratory inflammation markers on admission. Outcome was blood culture positivity.

Three hundred and sixty-six patients were enrolled. Median age was 78.5 (interquartile range [IQR]: 62-88). Among patients aged 18 to 79 years, shaking chills (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-4.51) and previous antibiotics use (AOR 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.68) were significant. However, among patients aged 80 years and older, shaking chills (AOR 3.06, 95% CI: 1.30-7.19) and body temperature above 38.5°C (AOR 2.98, 95% CI: 1.30-6.83) were significant.

A history of shaking chills and vital signs indicating high body temperature were two findings that were useful in predicting bacteremia, especially in elderly patients aged 80 years and older. Further study is needed to assess whether the result is applicable in other regions and populations.