Morbidity Associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bloodstream Infections

Abstract We sought to quantify patient morbidity throughout Pseudomonas aeruginosa bloodstream infection (PABSI) as a function of patient covariates. Individuals with PABSI were included in a retrospective, observational, cohort study. Morbidity was quantified by serial Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. Impact of active antimicrobial treatment was assessed as a function of changes in SOFA scores as the dependent variable. A total of 95 patients with PABSI were analyzed. Relative to baseline SOFA scores (day −2), scores after PABSI were increased by 37% on day 0 and 22% on day +2 but returned to baseline on day +7. Overall mortality was 37%, and mean length of hospital stay (postculture) was 16 days. Most patients were appropriately treated, with n = 83 (87%) receiving an active agent and n = 61 (64%) receiving >1 agent. As a result, an effect of therapy on morbidity was not observed. Advanced age and elevated baseline SOFA scores predicted increased in-hospital mortality ( P = 0.01 and P P P P P P