RÉSUMÉ
Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of bloodstream infection caused by carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) in preterm infants, and to provide basis for early clinical diagnosis and infection control. Methods:The clinical data of infants with CRKP bloodstream infection admitted to the Preterm Infants Ward of Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The risk factors for death in preterm infants caused by CRKP bloodstream infection were explored through multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the clinical value of each factor on evaluating prognosis. The area under curves (AUC) of each factor in different ROC curve were compared by Delong′s test.Results:A total of 96 preterm infants with CRKP bloodstream infection were included, including 70 in the survival group and 26 in the death group. The first onset symptoms of CRKP bloodstream infection in preterm infants were persistent tachycardia (heart rate>180 per minute) (69 cases, 71.9%), fever (61 cases, 63.5%), and apnea (59 cases, 61.5%). There were 88(91.7%) cases of infection combined with septic shock, and 91(94.8%) cases required vasoactive drug support. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the maximum vasoactive-inotropic score (VIS) within 48 hours of onset (odds ratio ( OR)=1.058, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.022 to 1.095, P=0.001), concurrent purulent meningitis ( OR=8.029, 95% CI 1.344 to 47.972, P=0.022), and concurrent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) ( OR=10.881, 95% CI 1.566 to 75.580, P=0.016) were independent risk factors for death in preterm infants with CRKP bloodstream infection. The ROC curve showed that the AUCs for evaluating the prognosis of preterm infants with NEC and purulent meningitis were 0.784 and 0.711, respectively. The AUC for evaluating the prognosis of preterm infants with a maximum VIS ≥52.5 points within 48 hours of onset was 0.840, and the AUC for combining the three factors was 0.931. Compared with NEC and purulent meningitis, the AUC for combining factors was higher, the differences were statistically significant ( P=0.002, P<0.001). Conclusions:Preterm infants with CRKP bloodstream infection who have a maximum VIS ≥52.5 points within 48 hours of onset, with NEC and purulent meningitis have a higher risk of death.