[Bacteraemias due to Enterococci in Burns: Incidence and Factors Associated to Mortality]

Enterococcus species are a common cause of nosocomial bacteremia, affecting patients with severe comorbidities. They are often associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A prognostic, observational, mono-centric and retrospective study was conducted in the intensive burn care unit over 4 years, from January 2020 - December 2023. Burn patients who had at least one episode of Enterococcus spp. bacteremia were included. Out of 1,566 admitted patients, 102 developed at least one Enterococcus bacteremia (an incidence of 7.3%), of which 88 patients were retained for analysis. A total of 104 enterococcal bacteremias were observed. The most common species was E. fæcium (58.7%). Twenty-four percent of the strains were resistant to teicoplanin, and 28.8% were resistant to vancomycin. No resistance to tigecycline or linezolid was noted. The median time to the onset of bacteremia was 7 days, and it was complicated by septic shock in 40.4% of cases. Bacteremia was primitive in 96% of cases and polymicrobial in 78,8% of cases. Median ICU length of stay was 22 days. Mortality was 55.7%. Independent factors associated with mortality due to enterococcal bacteremia were: occurrence of ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), acute renal failure, fungal infection, and Enterococcus resistance to vancomycin.