Bacteremia complicating urinary tract infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Mortality risk factors

Objectives To examine the clinical risk factors for death within 30 days of diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa ‐causing bacteremia after a urinary tract infection. Methods A total of 62 patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from both urine and blood at the same episode from January 2009 to December 2016 were enrolled in the present study. We retrospectively investigated clinical risk factors for death by comparison between surviving patients and those who died within 30 days after diagnosis of P. aeruginosa bacteremia. The comparison for risk factors for bacteremia‐related death included 31 categories, such as age, laboratory data, underlying diseases, clinical history, history of surgery, care in the intensive care unit, P. aeruginosa susceptibility to the antibiotics used at the time of bacteremia diagnosis and consultation with urological department. Results The study included 48 men and 14 women aged 71.3 ± 10.4 years. Nine patients (14.5%) died of P. aeruginosa bacteremia. Statistical analysis showed that non‐survivors had significantly lower albumin levels than survivors (2.07 ± 0.62 vs 2.62 ± 0.65; P = 0.023). The non‐survivors had significantly higher rates of ventilator use, history of heart disease, septic shock and lower rates of consultation with urological departments after diagnosis ( P < 0.05). Conclusions Patients with bacteremia complicating urinary infection by P. aeruginosa have a low death rate. Earlier intervention by urologists might improve patients’ outcome. Lower albumin levels, ventilator use, history of heart disease and septic shock are factors associated with higher mortality rate.