What Is the Impact of Anti-Enterococcal Empirical Therapy on Survival of Patients With Enterococcal Bloodstream Infections?

BACKGROUND

The impact of early administration of active anti-enterococcal empirical therapy (EET) on outcomes of patients with enterococcal bloodstream infections (EBSIs) is unclear. We compared the outcome of patients with EBSIs receiving or not empirical therapy targeting Enterococcus spp.

METHODS

A retrospective multicenter study enrolling all hospitalized patients with monomicrobial EBSIs during 2011-2019. The exposure variable was considered receiving EET defined as administration of antibiotic(s) active in vitro against Enterococcus spp isolated from index blood cultures (BCs) ≤48 hours from collection. The primary outcome was 14- and 30-day all-cause mortality from index BC. The impact of EET on mortality was assessed by Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression after adjustment with inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW). Post hoc analysis explored the effect of EET given ≤24 hours from EBSI onset.

RESULTS

Overall, 758 patients (male, 62%; median age, 71 years) had EBSIs and 342 received EET; 14- and 30-day mortality was 24% and 42%, respectively. After IPTW adjustment, a higher number of comorbidities and EBSIs without an identified source but not EET were independent predictors of 14- and 30-day mortality. No significant mortality risk reduction was associated with EET in the real or the IPTW-adjusted analysis. In the subgroup analysis, EET reduced 14-day mortality only in patients with vancomycin-resistant EBSIs. Even among 237 (31%) patients receiving EET <24 hours from EBSI onset, EET did not affect survival.

CONCLUSIONS

Early administration of EET may not have a prognostic impact in patients with EBSIs. Delivering EET might affect short-term survival only in patients with vancomycin-resistant EBSIs.