The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of bacteremia detected in patients over 79 years and to identify possible factors associated with the mortality.
A retrospective cohort study, which included all patients over 17 years of age with bacteremia detected between 2004-7 was performed. Demographic variables, comorbidities, source of bacteremia, causing microorganism, severity and hospital mortality were recorded. Patients were classified into three age groups: 18 to 64 years (G1), 65 to 79 (G2) and 鈮?0 years (G3).
We analyzed 1594 episodes of bacteremia (35%in G1, 35%in G2 and 29%in G3). In G3, 47%had renal failure, 83%solid neoplasm, 2%immunosuppression 5%malnutrition and 38%decubitus ulcers. These proportions were 27, 30, 5 and 2%, respectively in G2, and 15, 16, 12 and 5%in G1 (P<.01). The urinary focus accounted for 28%, 43%and 44%in G1, G2 and G3, respectively (P<.01) and biliary focus 6, 11 and 16%(P<.01), in each group. E. coli accounted for 32%in G1, 44%in G2 and 51%in G3. Mortality in each age group was 9, 16 and 21%. In multivariate analysis, mortality in the 鈮?0 years was associated with renal failure, malnutrition, the presence of ulcers and shock.
Bacteremia in the elderly are mainly of urinary origin. Mortality in these cases depends primarily on the patient's baseline status rather than their age.