Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacilli or Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Bacteremia

PURPOSE: The incidences of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli (CRGNB) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) have increased rapidly in South Korea since 2000. The mortality rate for CRGNB or VRE bacteremia cases is higher than that for non-resistant bacteremia cases. The factors associated with higher mortality are unclear. We investigated the factors associated with mortality from CRGNB or VRE bacteremia and compared the relative risk of these factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively collected data from adult patients with CRGNB or VRE bacteremia. Patients were grouped according to whether they survived or died. The data from both groups were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 171 cases of CRGNB or VRE bacteremia were identified, of which 100 were CRGNB bacteremia cases and 71 were VRE bacteremia cases. Multivariate analysis revealed significant associations with Pitt bacteremia score (PBS) (odds ratio [OR] 1.329, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.049–1.684). In the multivariate analysis, negative conversion of follow-up blood culture (FUBC) was related with one-week mortality from CRGNB or VRE bacteremia (OR 17.623, 95% CI 5.726–54.244). In the multivariate analysis of risk factors for 28-day mortality for CRGNB or VRE bacteremia, the significant risk factors were bacteremia of respiratory origin (OR 4.491, 95% CI 1.622–12.435) and positive FUBC (OR 4.082, 95% CI 1.626–10.204). CONCLUSION: Despite the high mortality rate in patients with CRGNB or VRE bacteremia, the related mortality could be predicted by independent risk factors of PBS, positive FUBC, and bacteremia of respiratory origin.