Disease Severity Is an Independent Risk Factor of Mortality and Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients With Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella Pneumoniae Bloodstream Infections: a 5-year Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Background: Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections (CRKP-BSIs) are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in critically ill patients. Comprehensive mortality risk analyses and therapeutic assessment in real-world practice are beneficial to guide individual treatment.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 87 patients with CRKP-BSIs (between July 2016 and June 2020) to identify the independent risk factors for 28-day all-cause mortality. The therapeutic efficacies of tigecycline-and polymyxin B-based therapies were analyzed.Results: The 28-day all-cause mortality and in-hospital mortality rates were 52.87% and 67.82%, respectively, arising predominantly from intra-abdominal (56.32%) and respiratory tract infections (21.84%). A multivariate analysis showed that 28-day all-cause mortality was independently associated with the patient’s APACHE II score (p = 0.002) and presence of septic shock at BSI onset (p = 0.006). All-cause mortality was not significantly different between patients receiving tigecycline- or polymyxin B-based therapy (55.81% vs. 53.85%, p = 0.873), and between subgroups mortality rates were also similar. Conclusions: Critical illness indicators (APACHE II scores and presence of septic shock at BSI onset) were independent risk factors for 28-day all-cause mortality. There was no significant difference between tigecycline- and polymyxin B-based therapy outcomes. Prompt and appropriate infection control should be implemented to prevent CRKP infections.