Impact of host-pathogen-treatment tripartite components on early mortality of patients with Escherichia coli bloodstream infection: Prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND

Risk factors affecting early morality of patients with Escherichia coli bloodstream infection (BSI) were investigated including the host-pathogen-treatment tripartite components.

METHODS

Six general hospitals in South Korea participated in this multicentre prospective observational study from May 2016 to April 2017 and a total of 1492 laboratory-confirmed E. coli BSI cases were studied. Cox regression was used to estimate risks of the primary endpoint, i.e., all-cause mortality within 30 days from the initial blood culture. Six multivariate analysis models were constructed in accordance to the clinical importance and intra- and inter-component multicollinearity.

FINDINGS

Among the 1492 E. coli BSI cases, 9.5% (n = 141) patients expired within 30 days. Six models of multivariate analysis indicated risk factors of critical illness, primary infection of peritoneum, and chronic liver disease including cirrhosis for host variables; of phylogenetic group B2, ST131-sublineage H30Rx, multidrug resistance, group 1 CTX-M extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production, and having either of fyuA, afa, and sfa/foc virulence genes for causative E. coli pathogen variables; and of delayed definitive therapy for antimicrobial treatment variables. In addition, as a protective factor, primary urinary tract infection was identified.

INTERPRETATION

Despite decades' effort searching for the risk factors for E. coli BSI, systemic understanding covering the entire tripartite component is still lacking. This study detailed the organic impact of host-pathogen-treatment tripartite components for early mortality in patients with E. coli BSI.