Using a database from a surveillance study of community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia, we compared data of the bacteremic group with that of the non-bacteremic group.
Among 981 adult patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, 114 (11.6 % ) patients who had documented pneumococcal bacteremia were classified into the bacteremic group. In a multivariable analysis, use of immunosuppressant drugs, younger age (<65 years), and DM were independent risk factors associated with the development of bacteremic pneumonia among patients with pneumococcal pneumonia (all P?<?0.05). The mortality rate was significantly higher in the bacteremic group than in the non-bacteremic group (28.6 % vs. 8.5 % ; P?<?0.001). The multivariable analysis revealed that concomitant bacteremia was one of the significant risk factors associated with mortality (OR, 2.57; 95 % CI, 1.24-5.29), along with cerebrovascular disease and presentation with septic shock (all P?<?0.05).
Bacteremia was a common finding in pneumococcal pneumonia and was associated with a higher mortality rate. Several clinical variables may be useful for predicting bacteremic pneumonia among patients with pneumococcal pneumonia.