A prospective search for ocular lesions in hospitalized patients with significant bacteremia

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, risk factors, an d prognostic value of ocular lesions in unselected patients with bacteremia , A total of 202 bacteremic patients, 101 nonbacteremic septic patients, an d 90 nonseptic control patients were compared in a prospective, controlled, observational study. Ocular lesions related to bacteremia were found in 12 % of the bacteremic group, 5% of the septic group, and 2% of the control gr oup. Ocular lesions were significantly more frequent in the bacteremic pati ents than in the control patients (P = .007). The severity of the clinical condition and the presence of fungemia predict independently a higher risk of ocular lesions. Mortality rates among bacteremic patients with and witho ut ocular lesions were, respectively, 32% and 8% (P < .01; OR, 3.99), The a symptomatic nature of most ocular lesions in patients with bloodstream infe ctions and the impossibility of amelioration in most cases lead us to recom mend ophthalmologic examination for bacteremic patients only when prognosti c information is needed.