PNEUMOCOCCAL BACTEREMIA IN 2 TERTIARY CARE HOSPITALS IN WINNIPEG, CANADA

Study objective: To review experience with pneumococcal bacteremia at two Canadian tertiary care centers. Design: Retrospective record revie w. Setting: Two tertiary acute care teaching hospitals in Winnipeg, Ma nitoba. Patients: Patients identified with pneumococcal bacteremia dur ing an 8-year period. Results: Hospital records were reviewed for 534 of 617 patients with pneumococcal bacteremia. The overall case fatalit y ratio was 70 (13%), varying from 3.2% in children to 43% in those ol der than 80 years, Twenty-seven (18%) hospitalized children and 68 (23 %) adults required ICU admission. Duration of hospitalization was 14.9 +/-24.9 and 11.0+/-19.1 days for children at the two institutions and 22.5+/-37.6 days and 38+/-93 days for adults, For the 217 viable pneum ococcal strains studied, 89% were serotypes included in the present 23 -valent vaccine. Documentation of prior vaccination was present for on ly 9 (1.7%) patients, although 281 (89%) adults and 99 (45%) children met criteria for vaccination. Conclusions: Mortality in our population is similar to previous reports, More widespread pneumococcal vaccinat ion in eligible populations may not only decrease mortality, but may a lso provide savings through decreased hospital admission and need for intensive care.