title: Septicemia in granulocytopenic patients: a shift in bacterial etiology.
abstract: 35 episodes of septicemia in 33 patients occurred among 269 consecutive patients with granulocytopenia (granulocyte cell count less than or equal to 0.5 x 10(9)/l) during the 7-year period 1982-1988. 59% of isolated bacteria were Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis, Streptococcus species and Pneumococcus) and 41% Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, Acinetobacter and Citrobacter). Compared to the 7-year period 1975-1981, there was a decrease in the relative number of patients with Gram-negative septicemia. Thus, a shift from a predominating Gram-negative etiology in the 1975-1981 period to a predominating Gram-positive etiology in the 1982-1988 period was noted. In both periods the mortality rate was high in patients with Gram-negative septicemia, especially in patients with a Ps, aeruginosa infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sternby
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ursing
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000380:Agranulocytosis / Q000150:complications*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged