Appropriate Antibiotic Use in Catheter-related Bloodstream Infection Reduces Recurrence of Bacteremia

Abstract

  Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) should be treated by administration of antibiotics effective against the isolated bacteria according to the guidelines of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the JAID/JSC (Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases/Japanese Society of Chemotherapy) Guide to Clinical Management of Infectious Diseases 2011. However, in clinical practice, antibiotics are administered which are not effective against the isolated bacteria and/or the catheter is often simply removed. This study analyzed the isolated bacteria and the antibacterial agents administered for cases of CRBSI and analyzed the effects of treatment on bacteremia recurrence in three groups of patients: patients who underwent only catheter removal, patients administered antibiotics effective against the isolated bacteria, and patients administered antibiotics not effective against the isolated bacteria. The bacteremia recurrence rate was significantly lower in the group of patients treated with antibiotics effective against the isolated bacteria than that in the group of patients who underwent only catheter removal (p=0.004) or the group of patients administered antibiotics not effective against the isolated bacteria (p=0.031). These results indicate that appropriate antibiotic use is necessary in suspected cases of CRBSI and that this practice will lower the risk of CRBSI recurrence.