Predictors of bacteraemia in emergency department patients with pneumonia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the proportion of patients investigated in an Australian emergency department (ED) for non-hospital-acquired pneumonia with bacteraemia and to identify risk factors for bacteraemia. Method: Retrospective cohort study of patients with an ED diagnosis of non-hospital-acquired pneumonia in whom blood cultures were taken. Data collected included demographics, history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), immunosuppression, intravenous (IV) drug use or diabetes, prior antibiotic use, clinical features, biochemistry, haematology and blood culture results, ED disposition and pneumonia severity index (PSI) class. Outcomes of interest were the proportion of blood cu..