Time to positivity of blood cultures in bloodstream infections with and association with outcome.

PURPOSE

Invasive infections with predominantly occur in persons of older age with substantial morbidity and mortality. Time to positivity from blood cultures (TTP) has been shown to be a prognostic indicator in bloodstream infections caused by other beta-haemolytic streptococci. This study aimed to determine any possible association between TTP and outcome in invasive infections due to .

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Episodes of bacteraemia, that occurred during 2015-2018 in the Region of Skåne, Sweden, were identified through the laboratory database and retrospectively studied. Any association with TTP and the primary outcome, death within 30 days and the development of sepsis or disease deterioration within 48 hours from blood culturing as secondary outcomes were investigated.

RESULTS

Among the 287 episodes of bacteraemia, 30-day mortality rate was 10% ( = 30). Median TTP was 9.3 h (interquartile range 8.0-10.3 h). Median TTP was statistically significantly shorter in patients who died within 30 days compared to surviving patients (7.7 vs 9.3 h,  = .001, Mann-Whitney test). Short TTP(≤ 7.9 h) was still associated with 30-day mortality when adjusting for age, (OR 4.4, 95% CI 1.6-12.2,  = .004). Associations between secondary outcomes and levels of TTP were not observed.

CONCLUSION

TTP may be an important prognostic indicator for 30-day mortality in patients with bloodstream infections due to .