Objectives: To compare type of infection, microbiology, source, complicatio
ns and outcome of bactermia in diabetic and non-diabetic patients in our te
aching hospital. To study the risk factors associated with diabetic bactere
mia's mortality and to compare our findings with those reported in the lite
ratures.
Methods: Retrospective study of all adult cases of bactermia admitted to Ki
ng Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from Jan
uary 1998 to January 1999.
Results: Rate of bacteremia per 1000 admission was 23. We compared 71 episo
des in 48 diabetics with 100 episodes in 77 non-diabetics. Diabetic patient
s were older than non-diabetics (mean age 61.08 versus 49.89 years, p <0.00
1). No statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups
in the type and source of infection. Klebsiella of urinary source was isola
ted from 37% episodes in diabetics versus 11% non-diabetics (p 0.03). Acute
renal failure and septic shock were the 2 complications significantly deve
loped in non-diabetics compared to diabetics (19% versus 7% and 13% versus
4%, p=0.02 and 0.05). Mortality due to bacteremia was 24% in diabetics and
44% in non-diabetics (p 0.007). Hospital acquired infections, presence of u
nderlying malignancy, use of ventilators, development of septic shock and a
cute renal failure, were factors associated with high mortality in diabetic
bacteremia.
Conclusions: Our results are comparable with those reported in the literatu
res. The better outcome observed in our diabetic bactermia could be due to
adequate glycemic control during bacteremic episode and appropriate choice
of empiric antibiotics.