Risk Factors and Outcomes of Community-Acquired Carbapenem-Resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> Infection in Elderly Patients

• Main Authors: Yen-Chou Chen (Author), I-Ting Tsai (Author), Chung-Hsu Lai (Author), Kuo-Hsuan Lin (Author), Yin-Chou Hsu (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: MDPI AG, 2024-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

The increasing prevalence of carbapenem-resistant <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (CRKP) infections is a global concern. Elderly patients have a diminished immune response and functional reserve, and are thus more vulnerable to bacterial infection. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors and outcomes in elderly patients with community-acquired CRKP infections. We performed a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary medical center between 1 January 2021, and 31 December 2021. All elderly patients who visited the emergency department during this period with culture-positive <i>K. pneumoniae</i> were enrolled, and their baseline demographics, laboratory profiles, management strategies, and outcomes were recorded and analyzed. We identified 528 elderly patients with <i>K. pneumonia</i> infection, and the proportion of patients with CRKP infection was 10.2% (54/528). Recent intensive care unit (ICU) admission and prior carbapenem use are independent risk factors for CRKP infection in elderly patients. Compared to patients with carbapenem-sensitive <i>K. pneumoniae</i> infection, those with CRKP infection had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcomes, including ICU care, respiratory failure, septic shock, and 90-day mortality. CRKP infection was also identified as an independent risk factor for 90-day mortality. Clinicians should be aware of the increasing prevalence of CRKP infections in elderly patients and judiciously choose appropriate antibiotics for these patients.

Item Description

10.3390/antibiotics13030282
2079-6382