Prolonged Parenteral Nutrition Is One of the Most Significant Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infections in Adult Patients With Intestinal Failure.

Background: Intestinal failure (IF) and its management are associated with an increased likelihood of infectious complications. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and potential risk factors for nosocomial infections (NIs) in hospitalized adult patients with IF.

Methods: In total, 259 eligible patients with IF admitted to a single clinical nutrition center in a tertiary referral hospital from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2019, were retrospectively identified. NIs were defined according to the 2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for NIs.

Results: The mean age of the study population was 47.0 ± 17.7 years, and 158 (61.0%) were men. The mean body mass index was 16.2 ± 2.9 kg/m , and 219 (84.6%) were diagnosed with malnutrition. The prevalence of NIs was 25.5% (113 NIs in 66 patients). The most common NIs were pneumonia (14.3%), bacteremia of unknown origin (13.5%), catheter-related bloodstream infection (5.0%), lower respiratory tract infection (5.0%), surgical site infection (3.9%), and urinary tract infection (1.9%). Multivariate analysis revealed that decreased serum albumin level (odds ratio [OR], 0.884; 95% CI, 0.883-0.978, P < .05), presence of gallbladder stones or cholestasis (OR, 3.144; 95% CI, 1.044-9.464; P < .05), and prolonged parenteral nutrition (PN) use (OR, 1.072; 95% CI, 1.039-1.105; P < .001) were independent predictors for NIs.

Conclusions: NIs remain prevalent in hospitalized adult patients with IF. Prolonged PN use was one of the most significant predictors for NIs.