Time to positivity of Klebsiella pneumoniae in blood culture as prognostic indicator for pediatric bloodstream infections

The aim of this study is to explore the prognostic values and optimal cutoff point of time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture in children with Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) bloodstream infection. Ninety-four children with K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection hospitalized in Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from April 2014 to January 2019 were enrolled retrospectively. TTP and risk factors were determined and analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and logistic regression analysis. The standard cutoff point of TTP was 13 h. Patients in early TTP (<= 13 h) group had significantly higher in-hospital mortality (37.93% vs 6.15%, P = 0.000), higher incidence of septic shock (44.83% vs 6.15%, P = 0.000), higher proportion of PRISM III scores >= 10 (48.28% vs 20.00%, P = 0.005), and higher proportion of hypoalbuminemia on admission (44.83% vs 18.46%, P = 0.008). Multivariate analysis indicated PRISM III scores >= 10, early TTP, and hypoalbuminemia on admission were independent risk factors of in-hospital mortality (OR 8.36, 95% CI 1.80-38.92, P = 0.007; OR 5.85, 95% CI 1.33-25.61, P = 0.019; OR 5.73, 95% CI 1.30-25.22, P = 0.021, respectively) and septic shock (OR 14.04, 95% CI 2.63-75.38, P = 0.002; OR 11.26, 95% CI 2.10-60.22, P = 0.005; OR 10.27, 95% CI 2.01-52.35, P = 0.005, respectively). Conclusion: Early TTP (TTP <= 13 h), PRISM III scores >= 10, and hypoalbuminemia on admission appeared to be associated with worse outcomes for K. pneumoniae bloodstream infection children.What is Known:center dot Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection is an important cause of infectious disease morbidity and mortality worldwide in children.center dot Short duration of time to positivity indicated poor clinical outcomes.What is New:center dot Time to positivity <= 13 h, along with PRISM III scores >= 10 and hypoalbuminemia on admission, indicated higher in-hospital mortality and incidence of septic shock in Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection children.center dot The cut-off point of TTP in this pediatric study was much longer than that reported in adult patients.