Inflammatory Response in Bloodstream Infections from Enterococci
Author Information
Author(s): Katharine Bar, Hilmar Wisplinghoff, Richard P. Wenzel, Gonzalo M. Bearman, Michael B. Edmond
Primary Institution: Virginia Commonwealth University
Hypothesis
What is the inflammatory response and mortality associated with enterococcal bloodstream infections, particularly comparing vancomycin-resistant and vancomycin-susceptible strains?
Conclusion
Patients with enterococcal bloodstream infections have a high incidence of septic shock and organ failure, but vancomycin resistance does not predict worse outcomes.
Supporting Evidence
- 60% of bloodstream infections were caused by E. faecalis and 34% by E. faecium.
- Crude mortality was 48% among the patients studied.
- Septic shock occurred in 62% of patients, indicating a high severity of illness.
Takeaway
This study looked at sick people with infections from a type of bacteria called enterococci. It found that even though some bacteria were harder to treat, they didn't make people sicker than the easier-to-treat ones.
Methodology
A historical cohort study was performed on 50 adults with enterococcal bloodstream infections, analyzing their inflammatory response and mortality.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to retrospective data collection and the specific patient population at a single medical center.
Limitations
The study only included monomicrobial infections and may not represent all cases of enterococcal bloodstream infections.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of participants was 52 years, with 50% being female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p < 0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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