Not “a cute” complication: phenotypic analysis of acute kidney injury in Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia

Objectives
In this large retrospective cohort analysis, we aimed to determine the incidence of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO)-defined acute kidney injury (AKI) within 14 days in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB), and the association of AKI with 30-day mortality.

Methods
A retrospective cohort study of adults with SAB between 1998 to 2023 admitted to a large regional Australian health service. Baseline creatinine was the lowest serum creatinine concentration in the 365 days before the day of index blood culture collection and AKI was defined and staged using the KGIDO criteria. AKIs were classified as early (within 48 hours of index blood culture) or late (48 hours to 14 days after index blood culture).

Results
In those with SAB, AKI occurred in 46% (1255/2734) and was significantly linked to all-cause 30-day mortality (for patients with AKI, 354 died, 901 survived; without AKI 138 died and 1341 survived; OR, 3.81; 95% CI, 3.08–4.73; p ≤ 0.001). Overall 30-day mortality was 18% (492/2734). AKI resolution within 14 days occurred in 173/277 (62%) of those with an early AKI only, and in 101/435 (23%) of those with a late AKI only (p ≤ 0.001).