The characteristics and outcome of bacteraemia in renal transplant recipients and non-transplant renal patients

Background There is lack of outcome data for bacteraemic patients on specialist renal units. We described demographic, clinical, microbiological data and outcomes for bacteraemic adult renal transplant and non-transplant patients at a London Teaching Hospital. We also assessed the appropriateness of empirical antibiotic policy. Methods From December 2012 to November 2013, demographic, clinical and microbiological data were collected on consecutive patients with bacteraemia on a specialist UK renal unit. Empirical anti-microbial policy, based upon sites of infection, was piperacillin/tazobactam and amikacin, or meropenem for graft pyelonephritis, and vancomycin and gentamicin for suspected central venous catheter (CVC) associated infection. Results 113 bacteraemic episodes occurred in 83 patients. One patient had two bacteraemic episodes, one on haemodialysis and another after transplantation so appear in both groups. In the non-transplant group, 30-day mortality was 4/59 (6.8 %), more than the renal transplant group, 0/25 (0 %). While graft pyelonephritis was the predominant cause of bacteraemic episodes in renal transplant patients, 25/36 (69.4 %), there were a variety of other causes in the non-transplant group including uncomplicated line associated bacteraemia, 36/77 (46.8 %), complicated line associated bacteraemia, 11/77 (14.3 %) and bacteraemia unrelated to vascular access sites 19/77 (24.7 %). Overall, commonest isolates were Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus 20/77 (26.3 %), and Escherichia coli 28/113 (24.8 %). There were no Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates and, among Enterobacteriaceae, 15/57 (26.3 %) were extended spectrum beta-lactamase producers. Conclusions Death only occurred in the non-transplant renal group. Empirical antibiotic treatment with either piperacillin/tazobactam and amikacin, or meropenem was appropriate for renal transplant recipients as most bacteraemic episodes were secondary to graft pyelonephritis. Vancomycin and gentamicin was appropriate empirical antibiotic treatment for non-transplant patients with CVC associated infections, but not optimal for other sites of infection.