COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED BACTEREMIA - A PROSPECTIVE SURVEY OF 239 CASES

Abstract

Over a one-year period 239 patients with community-acquired bacteraemia were studied prospectively to evaluate their clinical profile, course and outcome. Gram-negative organisms accounted for 108 (45 percent) episodes of bacteraemia, Gram-positive 121 (51 percent) and polymicrobial 10 (4 percent). The organisms isolated most commonly were Escherichia coli (28.9 percent), Klebsiella spp. (7.5 percent), Streptococcus pneumoniae (21.3 percent), Staphylococcus aureus (12.1 percent) and haemolytic streptococci (4.6 percent). The overall mortality was 29.2 percent and most deaths were caused by bacteraemia or related complications. This condition therefore still has a high mortality despite modern antimicrobial drugs and intensive care. The most important factor in reducing mortality is early recognition and administration of appropriate antimicrobial drugs.