A retrospective analysis of community-onset bloodstream infections at a tertiary-care academic hospital in South Africa. Are current empiric antimicrobial practices appropriate?

BACKGROUND: Community-onset bloodstream infection (CO-BSI) is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Knowledge of locally prevalent pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns can promptly guide appropriate empiric therapy and improve outcomes. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the epidemiology of CO-BSI, the blood culture positivity rate and the contamination rate. We also sought to establish appropriateness of current empiric antimicrobial therapy practices. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed blood cultures taken from January 2015 to December 2019 at the emergency departments (EDs) of a tertiary-care academic hospital in South Africa using extracted laboratory data. RESULTS: The overall positivity rate of blood cultures taken at the EDs was 15% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15–0.16) and the contamination rate was 7% (95% CI, 0.06–0.07). Gram-positive bacteria predominated in the pediatric cohort: neonates, 52 (54%) of 96; infants, 57 (52%) of 109; older children, 63 (61%) of 103. Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen among older children: 30 (35%) of 85. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen isolated among adults and the elderly: 225 (21%) of 1,060 and 62 (29%) of 214, respectively. Among neonates, the susceptibility of E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to the combination of ampicillin and gentamicin was 17 (68%) of 25. Among adults, the susceptibility of the 5 most common pathogens to amoxicillin-clavulanate was 426 (78%) of 546 and their susceptibility to ceftriaxone was 481 (85%) of 565 (P = .20). The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus, extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales were low among all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Review of blood culture collection techniques is warranted to reduce the contamination rate. High rates of resistance to currently prescribed empiric antimicrobial agents for CO-BSI warrants a re-evaluation of local guidelines.