Risk Factors for Bloodstream Infection in Patients Receiving Peripheral Parenteral Nutrition

Objective Intravenous fluid therapy, including peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN), administered via a peripheral intravenous catheter (PVC) can occasionally lead to bloodstream infections (BSIs). PPN may thus be a risk factor for PVC-related BSI (PVC-BSI). However, the risk factors and incidence of PVC-BSI have not been previously reported, and evidence for these conditions remains unclear. Methods We retrospectively collected data from 391 patients who underwent PPN therapy with PVC at the Fukujuji Hospital from August 2022 to November 2023. We compared 20 patients who developed BSI during PPN therapy (BSI group) with 371 who did not develop BSI during PPN therapy (no-infection group). Results The incidence rate of PVC-BSI during PPN therapy was 5.1%. The BSI group had a significantly longer average daily infusion time of PPNs [median 24.0 (range 6.0-24.0) h vs. 6.0 (2.0-24.0) h, p<0.001] and of all intravenous fluids [median 24.0 (range 8.8-24.0) h vs. 10.3 (2.0-24.0) h, p<0.001] than the no infection group. An average daily infusion time of PPNs ≥12.0 h and an average daily infusion time of intravenous fluids ≥18.0 h were identified as predictive risk factors for BSI. When both risk factors were present, the sensitivity, specificity, and odds ratio for the development of BSI were 85.0%, 83.2%, and 27.9, respectively. Conclusion This study identified the incidence of and risk factors for developing BSI, such as a longer average daily infusion time of PPNs and all intravenous fluids, in patients receiving PPN therapy.