Survival and causes of death among patients with Yersinia enterocolitica infection. A Norwegian 10-year follow-up study on 458 hospitalized patients.

The aim of the present study was to elucidate the possible influence of the Yersinia enterocolitica infection on long-time survival, and to describe clinical conditions associated with a fatal issue. During the period 1974-83, Y. enterocolitica infection was diagnosed in 458 hospitalized patients by antibody response or isolation of the microorganism. The patients were followed for 4-14 years (until 1987). The observed cumulative survival rates for female patients, and for the whole material, deviated significantly from the expected rates for 10 and 8 years. Two patients died in association with the acute infection, and 2 died from malignant mesothelioma during the first year of observation. 4/42 other patients died during the follow-up period from chronic multiorgan disease, 9 from malignant disease, and 2 died from hematological disorders. A very high mortality (10/22) was observed among patients who had developed chronic liver disease subsequently to the infection. We conclude that chronic conditions associated with the Y. enterocolitica infection may exert a substantial impact on long-time survival.