Microbiolological profile of bloodstream infections in patients at a University Hospital in Cracow - retrospective studies

Bacterial and fungal infections are one of the most important causes of life threatening situations of seriously sick patients treated in various hospital departments. Changing in time high diversity of casual factors induces detailed environmental research over sepsis etiology. In this work, types and frequency of microorganisms isolation, collected from generalised infections of hospitalised patients in chosen departments of University Hospital in Cracow between 1989 and 1998. Microbiological blood examinations were held in system of constant monitoring of isolated cultures applying BacT/Alert- colorimetric system. Cultured microorganisms were identified using commercial biochemical tests- ID 32E, ID 32GN for bacilli and ID STAPH and Rapid ID STREPT tests for Staphyloccocci and Streptococci identification. In total, 95 strains of yeast fungi (5.1%), 506 strains of Enterobacteriaceae (27.0%), 164 strains of non-fermentive (8.7%) and 1110 isolates of Gram-positive bacteria (59.2%) was cultured proving their role in etiology of hospital acquired infections. During period of research change of profile of isolated micoorganisms was observed. Percentage of blood infections of Enterococcus spp. Etiology increased form 2.2% in 1989 to 6.7% in 1997-98. Dynamic growth of non-fermentive S. maltophilia bacilli to 2.8% and Acinetobacter spp. to 3.4% in 1997-98 was revealed. Number of isolated Gram-negative Enterobacteriaceae bacilli during period of research was the same. Constant growth tendency of invasive candidemia with highest percentage increase from 1.9% to 24.2% from General Surgery Department patients was observed. Diagnostic and therapeutic profile of tested departments and statistics of hospitalised patients was in a strict connection with increase of the number and meaning of the polyetiological bacteremias.

Keywords: polymicrobial bacteremia, Fungemia, etiologic spectrum, Bacteremia