Evaluation of early clinical failure criteria in Enterococcus species bloodstream infection

Infection. 2022 Aug;50(4):873-877. doi: 10.1007/s15010-022-01754-6. Epub 2022 Jan 19.

Abstract

Purpose: Early clinical failure criteria (ECFC) were recently introduced to predict unfavorable outcomes in patients with Gram-negative bloodstream infections (BSI). ECFC include hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea or mechanical ventilation, altered mental status, and leukocytosis evaluated at 72-96 h after BSI. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to assess performance of ECFC in predicting 28-day mortality in Enterococcus species BSI.

Methods: Hospitalized adults with Enterococcus species BSI at Prisma Health hospitals from 1 January 2015 to 31 July 2018 were identified. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between ECFC and 28-day mortality. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was used to measure model discrimination.

Results: Among 157 patients, 28 (18%) died within 28 days of BSI. After adjustments in multivariate model, the risk of 28-day mortality increased in the presence of each additional ECFC (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2-2.3, p = 0.005). Infective endocarditis (OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.4-10.7, p = 0.01) was independently associated with 28-day mortality. AUROC curve of ECFC model in predicting 28-day mortality was 0.74 with ECFC of 2 identified as the best breakpoint. Mortality was 8% in patients with ECFC < 2 compared to 33% in those with ECFC ≥ 2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: ECFC had good discrimination in predicting 28-day mortality in patients with Enterococcus species BSI. These criteria may have utility in future clinical investigations.

Keywords: Antibiotics; Bacteremia; Clinical failure; Enterococcus spp.; Outcomes; Survival.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Area Under Curve
  • Bacteremia* / diagnosis
  • Enterococcus
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sepsis*