Occurrence and determinants of enterococcal bloodstream infections: a population-based study

Abstract

Background: Although enterococci are common causes of bloodstream infections (BSIs), few studies have examined their epidemiology in non-selected populations.

Objective: To examine the incidence and risk factors for development of enterococcal BSI.

Methods: Surveillance for incident enterococcal BSI was conducted among all residents of the western interior of British Columbia, Canada during 2011–2018.

Results: The overall annual incidence was 10.0 per 100,000 and was 6.6 and 2.7 per 100,000 for E. faecalis and E. faecium, respectively. Among the overall cohort of 145 incident cases of enterococcal BSI, 22 (15.2%) were community-associated, 63 (43.5%) were healthcare associated and 60 (41.4%) were hospital-onset. Enterococcal BSI was predominantly a disease of older adults with rare cases occurring among those aged less than 40 years. Males showed significantly increased risk compared to females (14.3 vs. 5.6 per 100,000; incidence rate ratio; IRR; 2.6; 95% confidence interval; CI; 1.8–3.8; p < .0001) and this was most pronounced with advanced age. Several co-morbid illnesses were associated with increased risk (IRR; 95% CI) for development of enterococcal BSI most importantly cancer (8.8; 6.0–12.9; p < .0001), congestive heart failure (5.7; 3.1–9.7; p < .0001), diabetes mellitus (4.4; 3.0–6.3; p < .0001) and stroke (3.7; 1.9–6.5; .0001). As compared to patients with E. faecalis, patients with E. faecium BSI were more likely to be of hospital-onset, more likely to have an intra-abdominal/pelvic focus, and trended towards higher 30-day case-fatality rate.

Conclusions: Enterococci are relatively common causes of BSI. Although E faecalis and E faecium share commonalities they are epidemiologically distinguishable on several criteria.

Keywords:

• Epidemiology
• incidence
• bacterial infection
• bacteraemia
• enterococcus

Disclosure statement

None of the authors has conflicts of interest to disclose.