Lin et al identified risk factors for short-term mortality in bacteremic patients in the Emergency Department (ED). These can help to identify a patient who may benefit from more aggressive management. The authors are from E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, and Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan.
Patient selection: bacteremic patient in the ED
Outcome: 28-day mortality
Risk factors for short-term mortality:
(1) age > 60 years
(2) malignancy
(3) liver cirrhosis
(4) alcohol abuse
(5) polymicrobial bacteremia
(6) anemia
(7) sepsis
Sepsis - infection and >= 2 of the following:
(1) body temperature < 36 or > 38°C
(2) heart rate > 90 beats per minute
(3) respiratory rate > 20 breaths per minute
(4) PaCO2 < 32 mm Hg
(5) WBC count < 4,000 or > 12,000 per µL
(6) immature myeloid cells > 10%
The overall 28-day mortality rate was 12.6% with an individual's risk increasing with the number of risk factors present.
