Epidemiology and outcomes of bloodstream infections in 177 severe burn patients from an industrial disaster: a multicentre retrospective study

Objectives: To determine the characteristics of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and to evaluate the impact of BSIs on mortality in severe burn patients. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in 20 tertiary hospitals. A total of 185 patients who experienced a massive dust explosion in eastern China were included. Results: After exclusion, 177 patients were analysed. The median total body surface area (TBSA) burned was 95% (interquartile range 85% -98%). Inhalation injuries occurred in 97.2%. The overall 90-day mortality was 35% (62/177). During the study period, 120 (67.8%) patients developed 253 episodes of BSI with 323 unique causative pathogens. Sixty-six episodes were polymicrobial infections. Catheter-related BSIs (CRBSIs) accounted for 41.5% of the episodes. Acinetobacter baumannii (19.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (13.9%) and Candida (12.7%) were the most common organisms. Antimicrobial resistance was found in 63.5% of the isolates, particularly in Gram-negative bacteria. Patients who developed BSIs had a greater illness severity at admission to the intensive care unit, and worse outcomes. After adjusting for demographics, severity of illness and treatment characteristics in a multivariate logistic model, there was a trend toward BSI increasing the risk of 90-day mortality (adjusted OR 3.4; 95% CI 0.9-12.9; p=0.069). In subgroup analyses, CRBSIs (adjusted OR 5.7; 95% CI 1.3-24.9; p=0.021 versus no BSI) and polymicrobial BSIs (adjusted OR 6.1; 95% CI 1.3-28.1; p = 0.020 versus no BSI) had greater risk of 90-day mortality. Conclusions: A strikingly high rate of BSIs was observed in severe burn patients. Gram-negative organisms and fungi were the leading causes. CRBSIs and polymicrobial BSIs were associated with high mortality. (c) 2017 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.