Bacteremia associated with decubitus ulcers

Abstract

Episodes (104) of bacteremia in 102 patients with decubitus ulcers observed over 5 yr in the hospitals of 1 metropolitan area were studied. The ulcers were considered to be the probable source of bacteremia in 49% of episodes. Another site of infection was documented in 86% of patients. Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were the most frequent blood isolates in these patients, but only Bacteroides sp. correlated with probable origin of bacteremia from the ulcers. The overall mortality was 55%, with 51% of deaths being attributed to infection. These findings emphasize the importance of decubitus ulcers as potential sources of bacteremia in hospitalized patients.