Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: Predictors of 30-day mortality in a large cohort

We performed a retrospective study of a large cohort of patients who had ep isodes of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) from January 1995 through February 1999 at 1 medical center to identify predictors of 30-day mortalit y in SAB. Among 293 patients with episodes of SAB, 68 died (23.2%) within 3 0 days of onset. There was no significant difference in 30-day mortality as sociated with treatment with vancomycin, a beta -lactam, or a miscellaneous group of antimicrobial agents (P =.180), By logistic regression, an acute physiology score Ca component of the acute physiology and chronic health ev aluation [APACHE III]) >60 at onset of SAB was the most important predictor of 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 15.7). Other significant predictors were lung (OR, 5.8) or unknown (OR, 4.1) focus of SAB, age greater than or equal to 65 years (OR, 2.0), and diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.4). Future invest igators of SAB should take into consideration acute severity of illness at onset as well as other factors when evaluating or comparing outcomes.