Background: Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with high morbidity. Among all complications, infections, in particular if hospital acquired, could represent an important cause of death in patients with SAH. The aim of this study was to describe infectious complications in patients with SAH and to evaluate their impact on outcome.
Methods: A single-center cohort study included all patients with SAH admitted from January 2011 to December 2016, who stayed in the intensive care unit for at least 24 hours. Infection diagnosis was retrieved from medical files; central nervous system infections were not included. A multivariable analysis was performed to identify risk factors for development of infection. Logistic regression was performed to identify risks for unfavorable neurologic outcome at 3 months, defined as a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 1-3.
Results: Of the 248 patients with SAH, 70 (28.2%) developed at least 1 infection; the most frequent site of infection was respiratory (57.1%), primary bloodstream (16%), and urinary tract infections (15.7%). Twenty-eight patients (11.3% of all patients) had at least 1 episode of septic shock. Infected patients had a higher unfavorable outcome rate (60.0% vs. 33.3%; P = 0.001). Diabetes mellitus (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-3.13) and intracranial hypertension (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.14-3.25) were independently associated with the occurrence of infections. Septic shock (odds ratio, 6.36; 95% CI, 1.24-32.51; P = 0.02) was independently associated with unfavorable outcome.
Conclusions: Infections in patients with SAH are prevalent, especially pneumonia. Septic shock is associated with a poor neurologic outcome in this group of patients.
Keywords: Infection; Mortality; Neurologic outcome; Sepsis; Subarachnoid hemorrhage.
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