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Trends in bacterial bloodstream infections and resistance in immuno-compromised patients with febrile neutropenia: a retrospective analysis

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Abstract

Bacterial infections remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children. From the onset of fever, an early administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics is begun; this strategy could induce emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria (MDR). We describe the incidence and microbiological spectrum, including MDR bacteria of bacterial documented blood-stream infections (BSI) in immunocompromised children. A retrospective, descriptive study was conducted in a tertiary referral centre in France from January 2014 to December 2017. Our cohort included a large scale of patients with febrile neutropenia: haematological and oncological malignancies, haematopoietic stem cell transplantations, severe combined immunodeficiency syndromes. BSI were defined by positive blood culture samples associated with fever. Among 760 febrile neutropenia episodes in 7301 admitted patients, we identified 310 documented BSI with a mean of 7.4 BSI/1000 patient bed days. Only 2.9% BSIs were caused by MDR bacteria, none vancomycin resistant. Coagulase-negative staphylococci were identified in 49.7% BSI and Staphylococcus aureus caused 6.5% infections. Gram-negative bacilli accounted for 21.6% of isolated bacteria, Pseudomonas for 4.8%. The incidence of BSI annually decreased by 0.75% (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: With a step-down strategy at 48 h of initial broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, we reported a low number of MDR bacteria, no deaths related to BSI.

What is Known:

• Bacterial bloodstream infections are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised children

• Multi-drug resistant bacteria are emerging worldwide.

What is New:

• Initial broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy with a step-down strategy at 48 h: no deaths related to bloodstream infections with a low number of resistant bacteria.

• Parental and nurse stewardship to decrease bloodstream infections incidence with a drop of staphylococcal infections.

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Data availability

Data and material are available on demand.

Code availability

Xcel and R language.

Abbreviations

ALL:

Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia

AML:

Acute myeloid leukaemia

BSI:

Bloodstream infection

CoNS:

Coagulase-negative staphylococci

CVAD:

Central venous access device

HSCT:

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

MDR:

Multi-drug resistant

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Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the contribution of Dr. J. Grando and Ms. C. Bruchon to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, 1 Place Professeur Joseph Renaut, 69008, Lyon, France

    Coralie Raad, Cécile Conter, Daniela Cuzzubbo, Yves Bertrand & Carine Domenech

  2. Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

    Abdelkader Behdenna

  3. Bacteriology department, Institute of infectious disease Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France

    Christine Fuhrmann & Jean-Philippe Rasigade

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  1. Coralie Raad
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Contributions

Drs CR and CD conceptualised and designed the study, collected data, analysed the results, drafted the initial manuscript and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Drs CF and JPR collected and analysed the data and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Drs DC, CC and YB acquired and interpreted data and critically reviewed the manuscript. Dr. AB performed the analysis and interpretation of data and critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Carine Domenech.

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Raad, C., Behdenna, A., Fuhrmann, C. et al. Trends in bacterial bloodstream infections and resistance in immuno-compromised patients with febrile neutropenia: a retrospective analysis. Eur J Pediatr 180, 2921–2930 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04056-5

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