Risk of Mortality of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections Caused by Acinetobacter Species: Is Early Removal of the Catheters Associated With a Better Survival Outcome?

Acutely ill hematology/oncology patients with central-line associated bloodstream infections and the impact of timing of catheter removal on outcomes

BACKGROUND

Hematology/oncology patients are at risk for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI). The purpose was to determine if infection-related mortality, persistent bacteremia, and recurrent bacteremia were decreased with early central venous catheter (CVC) removal.

METHODS

A case-matched, retrospective cohort study was conducted comparing patients with early catheter removal (≤12 hours) to late catheter removal (>12 hours) in hematology/oncology patients with CLABSI from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2018. Patients were case-matched based on intensive care unit admission and presence of shock to control for severity of illness.

RESULTS/DISCUSSION

Of 148 patients meeting study inclusion, 128 (86.5%), had their CVC removed during hospitalization (median 11.8 hours). The majority had a hematologic malignancy (90.5%). Following case-matching, 48 patients remained in each group. The primary outcome of infection-related mortality, persistent bacteremia, or recurrent bacteremia occurred more frequently in the late catheter removal group compared to the early catheter removal group although this was not statistically significant (18.8% vs 8.3%, P = .136).

CONCLUSIONS

A lower incidence of infection-related mortality, persistent bacteremia, and recurrent bacteremia was found in patients early catheter removal; however the sample size was not adequate to detect statistical differences. Investigators should continue to evaluate if early catheter removal confers a benefit in a larger patient population.

Low 30-day mortality and low carbapenem-resistance in a decade of Acinetobacter bacteraemia in South Sweden

Background

The aim of this study was to provide a descriptive account of carbapenem resistance and risk factors for mortality from invasive Acinetobacter infections in the south of Sweden.

Methods

Blood isolates with growth of Acinetobacter species between 2010 and 2019 in Skåne county were subtyped using MALDI-TOF and subjected to susceptibility testing against clinically relevant antibiotics. Association between risk factors and 30-day mortality were analysed in univariate and multivariate logistic regression models.

Results

There were 179 bacteraemia episodes in 176 patients included in the study. The 30-day all-cause mortality was 16%. In all, two percent of Acinetobacter strains were carbapenem resistant. Independent risk factors associated with 30-day mortality in the multivariate regression model were Acinetobacter growth in all blood cultures drawn at the day of bacteraemia onset (OR 5.0, 95% CI: 1.8 to 13.7, p= 0.002), baseline functional capacity (1-4 points, OR 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2 to 3.4, p= 0.010) and correct empiric antibiotics at time of culture (OR 3.5 95% CI: 1.0 to 11.8, p= 0.045).

Conclusion

This study on Acinetobacter bacteraemia in South Sweden found low 30-day mortality and low carbapenem-resistance rates compared to previous international studies which may be due to a higher rate of contaminant findings.

Management and outcomes of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteremia in patients without cystic fibrosis: a retrospective observational study

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is an emerging pathogen of nosocomial infection in chronic or critically ill patients without cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective was to evaluate the management and outcomes of BCC bacteremia in patients without CF. We conducted a retrospective study of non-CF adult patients with BCC bacteremia between January 1997 and December 2016 at 4 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. A total of 216 non-CF patients with BCC bacteremia were identified. Most cases were hospital-acquired (79.2%), and the most common source was a central venous catheter (CVC) (42.1%). The rates of susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and piperacillin-tazobactam of BCC isolates were high as 92.8% and 90.3%, respectively. The rates of susceptibility to ceftazidime, meropenem, and levofloxacin were 75.5%, 72.3%, and 64.1%, respectively. The 14-day, 30-day, and in-hospital mortality rate was 19.4%, 23.1%, and 31.0%, respectively. Female (OR = 3.1; 95% CI, 1.4-6.8), liver cirrhosis (OR = 6.2; 95% CI, 1.6-16.6), septic shock (OR = 11.2; 95% CI, 5.1-24.8), and catheter-related infection (OR = 2.6, 95% CI, 1.2-5.8) were the independent risk factors for 30-day mortality. The outcome did not differ according to type of antibiotics used. Among 91 patients with CVC-related BCC bacteremia, delayed CVC removal (> 3 days) had a higher rate of persistent bacteremia (54.5 vs. 26.1%; P = 0.03) and lower rate of clinical response (49.0 vs. 71.9%; P = 0.04), compared with early CVC removal (within 3 days). BCC bacteremia occurring in non-CF patients was mostly hospital-acquired and CVC-related. Early removal of the catheter is crucial in treatment of CVC-related BCC bacteremia.

Catheter removal and outcomes of multidrug-resistant central-line-associated bloodstream infection

Central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are responsible for ∼1/3 of all deaths from healthcare-associated infections in the United States. Of these, multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are responsible for 20% to 67%. However, whether catheter removal affects clinical outcomes for MDRO CLABSIs has not been studied. Our objective was to determine the relationship between failure to remove a central venous catheter (CVC) and 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with MDRO CLABSIs. We used a retrospective cohort from Barnes-Jewish Hospital (1/1/2009-10/1/2015) to study patients with a multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus species, Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter species, or Pseudomonas aeruginosa CLABSI. Risk factors for 30-day mortality, including catheter removal, were assessed for association with 30-day mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. The CLABSIs were assessed prospectively at the time of occurrence by infection prevention specialists. A total of 430 patients met inclusion criteria, 173 (40.2%) with Enterococcus, 116 (27.0%) Enterobacteriaceae, 81 (18.8%) S aureus, 44 (10.2%) polymicrobial, 11 (2.6%) P aeruginosa, and 5 (1.2%) Acinetobacter CLABSIs. Removal of a CVC occurred in 50.2% of patients, of which 4.2% died by 30 days (n = 9). For patients whose CVC remained in place, 45.3% died (n = 97). Failure to remove a CVC was strongly associated with 30-day all-cause mortality with a hazard ratio of 13.5 (6.8-26.7), P < .001. Other risk factors for 30-day mortality included patient comorbidities (cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, cirrhosis), and being in an intensive care unit at the time of MDRO isolation. Failure to remove a CVC was strongly associated with 30-day all-cause mortality for patients with MDRO CLABSIs in this single center retrospective cohort. This suggests that patients presenting with MDRO CLABSIs should all undergo CVC removal.