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Prospective study of 288 episodes of bacteremia in neutropenic cancer patients in a single institution

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Abstract

Trends in causative organisms and sources of infection were studied in a series of 288 episodes of bacteremia in neutropenic cancer patients observed in a single institution from 1986 to 1993. The incidence of bacteremia increased significantly from 20 episodes per 1000 admissions in 1986 to 50 episodes per 1000 admissions in 1993 (p=0.00001). Over the study period, a continuous increment in gram-positive bacteremia, which reached 81% of episodes in 1993 (p=0.000001), was observed. Conversely, the incidence of gram-negative bacteremia remained stable. Coagulase-negative staphylococci and viridans group streptococci were the most commonly isolated pathogens. Bacteremia caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci increased from 3 episodes per 1000 admissions to 19 episodes per 1000 admissions (p=0.0001), and viridans group streptococci bacteremia increased from 0 episodes per 1000 admissions to 19 episodes per 1000 admissions (p=0.000001). The upward trend in gram-positive bacteremia appeared to be related to a significant increase in both intravascular catheters (p=0.003) and oral mucositis (p=0.003) as sources of infection. Specific strategies to prevent chemotherapy-induced mucositis and catheter-related bacteremia merit further investigations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Service of Hematology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Ciutat Sanitaria i Universitaria de Bellvitge, Autovía de Castelldefells Km 2,7, 08907 l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    E. González-Barca, A. Fernández-Sevilla & A. Grañena

  2. Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Ciutat Sanitaria i Universitaria de Bellvitge, Autovía de Castelldefells Km 2,7, 08907 l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    J. Carratalá & F. Gudiol

Authors
  1. E. González-Barca
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  2. A. Fernández-Sevilla
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  3. J. Carratalá
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  4. A. Grañena
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  5. F. Gudiol
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González-Barca, E., Fernández-Sevilla, A., Carratalá, J. et al. Prospective study of 288 episodes of bacteremia in neutropenic cancer patients in a single institution. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 15, 291–296 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695660

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01695660

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