Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with community-onset Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia requiring intensive care.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is the major pathogen of community-acquired pyogenic infections in Taiwan and can lead to poor prognosis in critically ill patients complicated with bacteremia. This study investigated the characteristics and outcome of patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia who required intensive care.

Method: Adult patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia requiring intensive care were retrospectively analyzed, compared with those treated in ordinary wards, and determined for risk factors for infection-related mortality and long-term mortality at a medical center in Taiwan over a 3-year period.

Results: Among the 309 patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia, 58 patients (18.8%) required intensive care. Respiratory tract infection [Odds ratio (OR) = 3.67, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.79-7.50, p < 0.001] was the independent risk factor for ICU admission. Infection-related mortality was 34.5%. Higher APACHE II score (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.02-2.01; p = 0.041) and underlying malignant neoplasm (OR = 35.48; 95% CI = 2.54-495.57; p = 0.008) were independent predictors of infection-related mortality on multivariate logistic regression. One-year overall mortality was 58.6% and malignant neoplasm was the predisposing factor for poor long-term outcome.

Conclusion: Nearly one fifth of patients with community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia required intensive care and this was associated with high mortality and poor long-term prognosis. Physicians should recognize the distinct characteristics and risk factors for mortality among these patients.