|
Smoking and Hospital-Acquired Bloodstream Infection
Researchers at the University of Michigan Patient Safety Enhancement Program recently found that smoking cigarettes within the past five years increased the risk of urinary tract-related bacteremia by 26%. The study was conducted at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Seattle. After accounting for differences in antibiotic use and number of days spent in the hospital, smoking remained a significant predictor of bacteremia. Other factors related to bacteremia included use of selected medications (immunosuppressants, corticosteriods) as well as certain diseases (cancer, diabetes).
| |
