ABSTRACT

Background: Gram-negative bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The present study examines the incidence, clinical characteristics, microbiological features, drug resistance and mortality associated with Gram-negative bacterial BSIs at a tertiary-care hospital in Beijing, China.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study of patients with Gram-negative bacterial BSIs was performed between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2018 at the Chinese People^,s Liberation Army General Hospital.

Results: A total of 6867 episodes of Gram-negative bacterial BSIs occurred among 3199 patients over 9 years. The overall incidence of Gram-negative bacterial BSIs fluctuated from 2.30 to 2.55 episodes per 1000 admissions over 9 years. Escherichia coli was the major pathogen (34.3%). The antibiotic resistance of ESBLs-producing E. coli was higher than non-ESBLs producing E. coli including the majority of antibiotics, but to carbapenems (0.7% VS 5.1%). Between 2010 and 2018, the overall mortality of Gram-negative bacterial BSIs decreased from 11.41% to 9.05% (X² = 6.95, P = 0.434).

Conclusions: Cephalosporins and carbapenem antibiotics were considered as the optimal treatment for patients with Gram-negative bacterial BSIs except for A. baumannii, which was treated according to the drug sensitivity or multidrug combination.