Epidemiology of biliary tract-associated bloodstream infections and adequacy of empiric therapy: an Australian population-based study

Although the biliary tract is a common source of invasive infections, the epidemiology of cholangitis- and cholecystitis-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) is not well defined. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence, clinical determinants, microbiology of biliary tract-associated BSI, and predicted adequacy of common empiric therapy regimens. All biliary tract-associated BSI in Queensland during 2000–2019 were identified using state-wide data sources. Predicted adequacy of empiric antimicrobial therapy was determined according to microbiological susceptibility data. There were 3,698 episodes of biliary tract-associated BSI occurred in 3,433 patients of which 2,147 (58.1