Background:
Risk factors for nosocomial infections and their impact on ICH outcomes are unclear. We hypothesized that factors present on admission are associated with developing infection, and patients who develop infections have worse outcomes.
Methods:
We determined prevalence of infections among patients in ERICH, a multicenter, triethnic case-control study of ICH. Exclusion criteria specific to this analysis were incomplete CT data and death/withdrawal of care <72 hours after admission. Patients with infection <two weeks before ICH were excluded from risk factor analyses, but included for outcomes assessments. We compared prevalence of risk factors for infections using chi-square and non-parametric tests, and performed multivariate logistic regression for risk of infection.
Results:
We enrolled 1397 individuals, 144 of whom died/had withdrawal of care within 72 hours and 210 with incomplete CT data, leaving 1043 patients. Nosocomial infections occurred in 300 patients (29%). Factors associated with presence of infections included ICH volume (13mL vs. 7mL, p <0.0001), GCS on admission (13 vs. 15, p <0.0001), WBC > 10 (42% vs. 32%), and higher CRP levels (4.9 vs. 1.8, p=0.01). Blacks had higher infection rates versus whites and Hispanics (33% vs. 27% and 24%, p=0.06). Procedural factors associated with infection included ventriculostomy, intrathecal-tPA, and intubation, while major neurosurgical procedures were associated with a 10-fold increase in CNS infection (all p <0.001). Infections were associated with bowel-bladder dysfunction, CHF/pulmonary edema, decubiti, DVT, dysphagia requiring PEG, and MI. Patients with infection were more likely to have DNR/DNI orders or to be dead at discharge (12.3% vs. 6.5%, p=0.0017). In a multivariate model for factors associated with infection, ICH volume, HIV history, intubation, CHF/pulmonary edema, and dysphagia requiring PEG were all associated with infection.
Conclusion:
There are identifiable risk factors associated with nosocomial infection after ICH, and infections are associated with mortality. Identification of patients at risk for infections may improve outcomes after ICH.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after lung transplantation: risk factors and outcomes analysis
