RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Bacteremia is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates and its prevalence increases with age. The objective of the present investigation was to know the epidemiology, associated factors and prognosis in patients with bacteremia in our environment and in relation with age. METHODS: Two hundred and twenty-nine episodes of bacteremia were prospectively studied; 97 (42%) cases corresponded to patients aged > 70 years. The prognostic factors were evaluated by the univariate and multivariate analysis in the whole cohort and univariate study of associated factors for an age > 70 years. RESULTS: The etiology, infectious sources, nosocomial acquisition, and complications apart from shock (p = 0.02) were similar in the elderly patients. The associations of diabetes (p = 0.05), COPD and/or heart disease (p = 0.01), and exitus were higher for patients > 70 years. The main independent prognostic factor in the series was disseminated intravascular coagulation (p < 0.001, multivariate OR 14.2). CONCLUSIONS: Patients older than 70 years have a higher incidence of shock and mortality associated with infection. The higher overall mortality rate in the series was associated with disseminated intravascular coagulation and multisystemic failure irrespective of age.
