ABSTRACT
A case control study to determine the risk factors for P. aeruginosa bacteremia was conducted in patients admitted to Siriraj Hospital in 1998. The case group consisted of 65 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia. There were 3 control groups. 65 patients with E. coli bacteremia, 64 patients with S. aureus bacteremia and 65 patients without bacteremia. Demographic information and potential risk factors i.e. type of infection, associated diseases/conditions, procedures/surgery, previous/current use of antibiotics and previous/current use of immunosuppressive/cytotoxic agents were extracted from the patients' medical records and compared. Univariate analysis revealed that the factors associated with P. aeruginosa bacteremia were infections acquired while hospitalized, hematologic malignancy, neutropenia, COPD, antibiotic receivers, cytotoxic agents receivers. However, multivariate analysis revealed that only hematologic malignancy, infections acquired while hospitalized and previous use of parenteral antibiotics were risk factors for P. aeruginosa bacteremia.