Patterns of bacteremia in pediatrics practice: factors affecting mortality rates.

All episodes of bacteremia occurring in pediatric practice (birth to age 17) in the major hospitals of one metropolitan area between 1977 and 1981 were analyzed to determine current patterns of bacteremia and associated mortality. The overall mortality for 713 episodes of bacteremia was 13.6%. However, mortality attributed specifically to bacteremia, according to the criteria used in this study, was only 7.6%. Thirty-four of the 54 deaths attributed to bacteremia occurred in the neonatal period. Five deaths were attributed to bacteremia during the second and third years of life, and only three deaths were attributed to bacteremia in patients between 3 and 16 years of age. No deaths were attributed to bacteremia arising from the following sources: otitis media, osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, skin infections, endocarditis, urinary tract infection or infection clearly due to vascular access devices.