COMPARISON OF RISK-FACTORS AND OUTCOME IN PATIENTS WITH ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECALIS VS ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECIUM BACTEREMIA

The purpose of our study was to determine retrospectively the risk fac tors for the acquisition of Enterococcus faecalis vs E. faecium bacter aemia, as well as the clinical outcomes of these patients. 62 patients with Enterococcus faecalis bacteraemia were compared to 31 patients, with E. faecium bacteraemia. Haematologic malignancies, neutropenia, h igh-risk source and previous use of aminoglycosides, carbapenems, ceph alosporins and clindamycin were significantly associated with E. faeci um bacteraemia, instead, urinary catheterization was found to be relat ed to Enterococcus faecalis bacteraemia. The mortality rates within 7 d and 30 d were 13% and 27%, respectively, in patients with E. faecali s bacteraemia and 6% and 29%, respectively, in patients with E. faeciu m bacteraemia. There was no difference in mortality between E. faecali s and E. faecium bacteraemia, nor was there a difference in seriousnes s of disease at the time of bacteraemia. In the subgroups of patients with monomicrobial or clinically significant E. faecalis vs E, faecium bacteraemia, the mortality rates were similar to the results of all s ubjects. Our results do not support the theory that E, faecium would b e a more virulent organism than E. faecalis.