INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of bacteremia detected in patients over 79 years and to identify possible factors associated with the mortality. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study, which included all patients over 17 years of age with bacteremia detected between 2004-7 was performed. Demographic variables, comorbidities, source of bacteremia, causing microorganism, severity and hospital mortality were recorded. Patients were classified into three age groups: 18 to 64 years (G1), 65 to 79 (G2) and ≥80 years (G3). RESULTS: We analyzed 1594 episodes of bacteremia (35% in G1, 35% in G2 and 29% in G3). In G3, 47% had renal failure, 83% solid neoplasm, 2% immunosuppression 5% malnutrition and 38% decubitus ulcers. These proportions were 27, 30, 5 and 2%, respectively in G2, and 15, 16, 12 and 5% in G1 (P<.01). The urinary focus accounted for 28%, 43% and 44% in G1, G2 and G3, respectively (P<.01) and biliary focus 6, 11 and 16% (P<.01), in each group. E. coli accounted for 32% in G1, 44% in G2 and 51% in G3. Mortality in each age group was 9, 16 and 21%. In multivariate analysis, mortality in the ≥80 years was associated with renal failure, malnutrition, the presence of ulcers and shock. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteremia in the elderly are mainly of urinary origin. Mortality in these cases depends primarily on the patient's baseline status rather than their age.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of bacteremia detected in patients over 79 years and to identify possible factors associated with the mortality. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study, which included all patients over 17 years of age with bacteremia detected between 2004-7 was performed. Demographic variables, comorbidities, source of bacteremia, causing microorganism, severity and hospital mortality were recorded. Patients were classified into three age groups: 18 to 64 years (G1), 65 to 79 (G2) and ≥80 years (G3). RESULTS: We analyzed 1594 episodes of bacteremia (35% in G1, 35% in G2 and 29% in G3). In G3, 47% had renal failure, 83% solid neoplasm, 2% immunosuppression 5% malnutrition and 38% decubitus ulcers. These proportions were 27, 30, 5 and 2%, respectively in G2, and 15, 16, 12 and 5% in G1 (P<.01). The urinary focus accounted for 28%, 43% and 44% in G1, G2 and G3, respectively (P<.01) and biliary focus 6, 11 and 16% (P<.01), in each group. E. coli accounted for 32% in G1, 44% in G2 and 51% in G3. Mortality in each age group was 9, 16 and 21%. In multivariate analysis, mortality in the ≥80 years was associated with renal failure, malnutrition, the presence of ulcers and shock. CONCLUSIONS:Bacteremia in the elderly are mainly of urinary origin. Mortality in these cases depends primarily on the patient's baseline status rather than their age.