BACKGROUND: Although bacteremias caused by the 6 ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus 
faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, 
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) have recently been highlighted 
as a serious complication in solid organ transplant (SOT), more information is 
urgently needed. We sought to investigate the frequency and clinical outcomes of 
ESKAPE bacteremia in SOT and determine the risk factors for mortality.
METHODS: A retrospective analysis of bacteremia after SOT was reviewed. Risk 
factors for mortality caused by ESKAPE bacteremia were identified.
RESULTS: Eighty-four episodes of bacteremia were caused by ESKAPE strains. Of 
these strains, 41 were caused by resistant ESKAPE (rESKAPE) organisms. The only 
factor for bacteremia-related mortality independently associated with ESKAPE was 
septic shock (odds ratio [OR] = 21.017, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 
5.038-87.682, P < 0.001). The factors for bacteremia-related mortality 
independently associated with rESKAPE bacteremia were septic shock (OR = 16.558, 
95% CI = 6.620-104.668, P = 0.003) and age ≥40 years (OR = 7.521, 95% CI = 
1.196-47.292, P = 0.031).
CONCLUSIONS: To improve the outcomes of transplantation, more effective 
therapeutic treatments are of paramount importance when older SOT recipients 
with bacteremia due to ESKAPE/rESKAPE organisms present with septic shock.