Formal Infectious Diseases Specialist Consultation Improves Long-term Outcome of Methicillin-Sensitive Bacteremia.

BACKGROUND

Formal infectious diseases specialist (IDS) consultation has been shown to improve short-term outcomes in bacteremia (SAB), but its effect on long-term outcomes lacks evaluation.

METHODS

This retrospective study followed 367 methicillin-sensitive (MS) SAB patients for 10 years. The impact of formal IDS consultation on risk for new bacteremia and outcome during long-term follow-up was evaluated. Patients who died within 90 days were excluded to avoid interference from early deceased patients.

RESULTS

Three hundred four (83%) patients had formal IDS consultation, whereas 63 (17%) received informal or no IDS consultation. Formal consultation, compared with informal or lack of consultation, was associated with a reduced risk of new bacteremia caused by any pathogen within 1 year (odds ratio [OR], 0.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18-0.84; = .014; 8% vs 17%) and within 3 years (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.19-0.80; = .010; 9% vs 21%), whereas a trend toward lower risk was observed within 10 years (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.29-1.08; = .079; 16% vs 25%). Formal consultation, compared with informal or lack of consultation, improved outcomes at 1 year (OR, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.06-0.44; < .001; 3% vs 14%), at 3 years (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.42; < .001; 5% vs 22%), and at 10 years (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24-0.74; = .002; 27% vs 46%). Considering all prognostic parameters, formal consultation improved outcomes (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.27-0.65; < .001) and lowered risk for any new bacteremia (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23-0.88; = .02) during 10 years of follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

MS-SAB management by formal IDS consultation, compared with informal or lack of IDS consultation, reduces risk for new bacteremia episodes and improves long-term prognosis up to 10 years.