Mortality and bloodstream infections in geriatrics units

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate risk factors of mortality in bloodstream infections in old and very old people in a French geriatric unit (Paul Brousse Hospital, APHP). 167 older patients with bloodstream infections were included and two groups were compared according to age (60-85 years and >= 85 years). Information was collected for each patient: age, sex, diseases, urinary catheter, temperature, signs of severe sepsis, biological examinations, bacteria and antibiotic treatments. All bacteremias were nosocomial. There was no difference between groups for pathogen, source or prognosis. Mortality rate at 60 days was 32.3%. The risk factors for mortality were: low albumin rate (p < 0.001), high C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.02) and moderate fever (p = 0.006). Multivariate logistic regression showed that these three parameters were significantly associated with a risk of mortality. The parameter with the highest risk was a low albumin rate < 30 g/l. Malnutrition may be a more long-term risk factor. A moderate fever probably results in a more frequent delay in diagnosis in this population. Our work supports that age is not a risk factor of mortality for bloodstream infections. However management of bacteremia has to be adapted to elderly. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.