Bloodstream infection results in significant short-term morbidity and mortality. No literature review has studied the long-term outcome following a bloodstream infection. This PROSPERO registered systematic review evaluated studies, which measured the association of a bloodstream infection with long-term morbidity and mortality.

Databases were systematically searched for studies of adult patients reporting morbidity and/or mortality one year or more following a bloodstream infection in comparison to a matched cohort without a bloodstream infection.

Ten observational studies were included in the final analysis. Five studies assessed only mortality, two assessed morbidity and mortality and three studies assessed morbidity only. The one year mortality ranged from between 8 and 48% for patients with bloodstream infection. The pooled risk ratio of death at one year was significantly higher for patients with bloodstream infection when compared to the matched cohort (RR 4.04 [95% CI 1.84-8.87]).

Bloodstream infection was associated with poor long-term outcome measured at one year when compared to matched controls. More evidence is needed to determine if this association is causative.