Impact of Antimicrobial Therapy on Bacteremia Outcomes
Author Information
Author(s): Thom Kerri A, Schweizer Marin L, Osih Regina B, McGregor Jessina C, Furuno Jon P, Perencevich Eli N, Harris Anthony D
Primary Institution: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Hypothesis
Does appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy improve outcomes in patients with bacteremia due to Escherichia coli or Klebsiella?
Conclusion
Appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy for E. coli and Klebsiella bacteremia is not associated with lower in-hospital mortality or shortened post-infection length of stay.
Supporting Evidence
- 73.3% of patients received appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy.
- 17% of patients died before discharge from the hospital.
- The median post-infection length of stay was 7 days.
Takeaway
The study found that giving the right antibiotics early to patients with certain blood infections didn't help them get better or leave the hospital sooner.
Methodology
Retrospective cohort study comparing in-hospital mortality and post-infection length of stay between patients receiving appropriate and inappropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy.
Potential Biases
Physician choice of empiric therapy may have been influenced by unmeasured factors such as prior infections or individual prescribing patterns.
Limitations
The study is observational, making it impossible to control for all confounding variables, and it did not evaluate post-discharge outcomes.
Participant Demographics
Mean age was 55.3 years; 45.3% were male.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.04
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 0.60 to 1.78
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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