How Broad Should Gram-Negative Coverage Be for Febrile Parenteral Nutrition Dependent Short Bowel Syndrome Patients?

Broader spectrum Gram-negative antibiotics are commonly utilized empirically for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in febrile short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients receiving home parenteral nutrition compared to those used empirically for inpatient-acquired CLABSI. This analysis reports 57 CLABSI in 22 patients with SBS admitted from the community and 78 inpatient-acquired CLABSI in 76 patients over a 5-year period. Proportional Gram-negative CLABSI was similar between the SBS and inpatient-acquired cohorts (43.8% vs42.3%, respectively, P  = 0.78). 1.8% and 10.3% (P = 0.125) of Gram-negative CLABSI were non-susceptible to ceftriaxone and 0% and 3.8% (P = 0.52) were non-susceptible to ceftazidime in the SBS and inpatient-acquired cohorts, respectively. In the SBS cohort, home ethanol lock therapy and prior culture results impacted Gramnegative pathogen distribution. Broader empiric Gram-negative coverage for CLABSI among SBS patients compared to inpatients is unnecessary. Third-generation cephalosporins represent appropriate empiric Gramnegative agents for febrile SBS patients presenting from the community to our institution.