Background: Statins modify inflammatory cell signaling during the immune response to infection. This has been considered as a pleotropic effect. Effects of statins in inflammatory conditions such as bacteremia have been found to be controversial.
Aims: We examined the effect of statins on the mortality of bacteremia patients.
Materials and methods: Major databases were searched for the pertinent clinical trials.
Results: Six cohort studies comprising 7553 patients were included. Hospital mortality was lower (15.36% vs 22.28%) in patients on statin.
Conclusions: There may be a potential role of statins in similar inflammatory and infective conditions.
Keywords: Bacteremia; infection; inflammation; mortality.