Decrease in All-Cause 30-Day Mortality after Bacteraemia over a 15-Year Period: A Population-Based Cohort Study in Denmark in 2000–2014

• Main Authors: Mona Katrine Alberthe Holm, Filip Jansåker, Kim Oren Gradel, Rikke Thoft Nielsen, Christian Østergaard Andersen, Jens Otto Jarløv, Henrik Carl Schønheyder, Jenny Dahl Knudsen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: bacteraemia; bloodstream infection; population-based study; mortality; epidemiology
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/11/5982
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

Introduction: Bacteraemia is a frequent infectious condition that strongly affects morbidity and mortality. The incidence is increasing worldwide. This study explores all-cause 30-day mortality after bacteraemia in two out of Denmark’s five healthcare regions with approximately 2.4 million inhabitants. Methods: Clinically significant bacteraemia episodes (<i>n</i> = 55,257) were identified from a geographically well-defined background population between 2000 and 2014, drawing on population-based data regarding bacterial species and vital status. All-cause 30-day mortality was assessed in relation to bacteraemia episodes, number of patients with analysed blood cultures and the background population. Results: We observed a decreasing trend of all-cause 30-day mortality between 2000 and 2014, both in relation to the number of bacteraemia episodes and the background population. Mortality decreased from 22.7% of the bacteraemia episodes in 2000 to 17.4% in 2014 (annual IRR [95% CI]: 0.983 [0.979–0.987]). In relation to the background population, there were 41 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 2000, decreasing to 39 in 2014 (annual IRR [95% CI]: 0.988 [0.982–0.993]). Numbers of inhabitants, bacteraemia episodes, and analysed persons having BCs increased during the period. Conclusions: All-cause 30-day mortality in patients with bacteraemia decreased significantly over a 15-year period.