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Bacteremia in adult men
Journal of the National Medical Association
|August 1, 1987
Summary
In adult male veterans, pathogens were more common in positive blood cultures than contaminants, leading to higher mortality rates. Early diagnosis and treatment of lung and wound infections are crucial for reducing deaths.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Positive blood cultures are critical indicators of bloodstream infections.
- Characterizing organisms and their clinical significance is essential for patient management.
- Understanding the epidemiology of bacteremia in specific populations, like male veterans, can inform healthcare strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the organisms isolated from positive blood cultures in adult male veterans.
- To determine the proportion of pathogens versus contaminants in these cultures.
- To identify clinical outcomes associated with different types of isolates.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study was conducted over 15 months.
- Collected data on 277 adult male veteran patients with positive blood cultures.
- Analyzed 348 isolated organisms, categorizing them as pathogens or contaminants.
Main Results:
- 65% of isolates were identified as pathogens, with coagulase-negative staphylococci and Escherichia coli being the most common.
- Pathogen-positive cultures had a higher mean number of positive bottles (1.8) compared to contaminant-positive cultures (1.2).
- Patients with pathogens had increased likelihood of hypotension and a 14-day mortality rate of at least 40%.
Conclusions:
- The majority of bacteremias in this cohort were community-acquired, with lungs and wounds as common entry sites.
- Emphasis on early diagnosis and effective treatment of infections originating from lungs and wounds is recommended.
- These interventions may reduce the significant mortality associated with positive blood cultures in this population.