Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40996668›Full record

ArticleInfection2026

Characteristics, incidence and outcome of polymicrobial bloodstream infections: a nationwide population-based study, Finland, 2004-2018.

Keiju S K Kontula, Kirsi Skogberg, Jukka Ollgren, Asko Järvinen, Outi Lyytikäinen

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Article in Infection, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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1citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Keiju S K KontulaDivision of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 340, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland. keiju.kontula@hus.fi.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9260-2305
Kirsi SkogbergDivision of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 340, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.
Jukka OllgrenDepartment of Public Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, Helsinki, FI-00271, Finland.
Asko JärvinenDivision of Infectious Diseases, Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 340, Helsinki, 00029 HUS, Finland.
Outi LyytikäinenDepartment of Public Health, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, P.O. Box 30, Helsinki, FI-00271, Finland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeBloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with high mortality. Previous studies have reported worse outcome for polymicrobial than for monomicrobial BSIs. We analyzed patient characteristics and temporal trends of the incidence and outcome of polymicrobial BSIs in Finland during 2004-2018.

methodsWe used data from national registries to identify polymicrobial BSIs during 2004-2018 and to determine origin of infection, patients' comorbidities and death within 30 days. Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was calculated according to ICD-10 diagnose codes.

resultsIn total, 173,715 BSIs were identified; 11,347 (6.5%) were polymicrobial. Compared with monomicrobial BSIs, the proportion of males, healthcare-associated BSIs, and patients with high CCI were greater in polymicrobial BSIs (58.5% vs. 51.5%, 34.7% vs. 28.7%, and 24.9% vs. 21.1%, respectively). Escherichia coli, enterococci, coagulase-negative staphylococci, and Klebsiella sp. were the most common pathogens of polymicrobial BSIs. Anaerobic bacteria were noted in 16.3% of polymicrobial BSIs, compared with 4.3% of monomicrobial BSIs. The annual polymicrobial BSI incidence rose from 9.7 to 21.8/100,000 population during 2004-2018, most sharply among patients aged ≥ 90 years. The 30-day case fatality of polymicrobial BSIs was 20.6%, significantly higher than in monomicrobial BSIs (12.4%), and a decline from 25.2 to 20.8% was observed over time.

conclusionPolymicrobial BSI incidence increased twofold during 2004-2018. The case fatality was considerably higher in polymicrobial than in monomicrobial episodes, likely related to patients' older age and more severe comorbidity. Our findings emphasize the need for prompt recognition of patients at risk to guide the choice of empiric treatment.

Indexed as

BacteremiaCoinfectionAdolescentAdultAgedAged, 80 and overComorbidityCross InfectionFemaleFinlandHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedRegistriesYoung AdultBloodstream infectionComorbidityIncidenceMortality

Identifiers

PMID40996668
PMCPMC12864200

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.