Effect of infusion time on risk of <i>Bacillus cereus</i> bloodstream infections in patients administered with BFLUID amino acid infusions via peripheral venous catheters

Comprehensive electrolyte infusions containing amino acids, including BFLUID, are a source of nosocomial infections caused by <i>Bacillus cereus</i>. It is recommended that clinicians finish the administration of BFLUID within 6 h; however, this recommendation currently lacks supporting empirical evidence. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the risk of <i>B. cereus</i> infection associated with BFLUID infusion according to the administration time. In the present single-center retrospective observational cohort study, clinical information was extracted from the medical records of patients aged ≥18 years who received BFLUID infusions via a peripheral line between April 2017 and October 2020 at Saitama Red Cross Hospital (Saitama, Japan). A total of 96 patients were enrolled during the study period, of whom 32 developed <i>B. cereus</i> infection. No patients with BFLUID infusions administered within 6 h developed <i>B. cereus</i> infection. Compared with patients who received BFLUID infusions within 8 h, those who received BFLUID infusions after 8 h had a 7-fold higher risk of infection. The present study provided empirical evidence supporting the recommendation that amino acid infusions should be administered to patients within 6 h to minimize the risk of <i>B. cereus</i> infection.