title: Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia in children: a review of 30 cases in 12 years.
abstract: A review was performed of the 30 cases of pediatric Enterobacter cloacae (EBC) bacteremia which occurred at our institution during a 12-year period. These 30 cases represented 88% of all cases in which EBC was isolated by blood culture (four other instances were considered contaminants); the rate of isolation of this organism relative to all positive blood cultures was 0.6%. There were 14 patients less than 12 months of age, with 10 less than 2 months of age. Infection was nosocomially-acquired in 17 cases. At the time the positive blood culture was obtained, 5 patients were afebrile, and 8 patients (five immunocompromised) had been receiving parenteral antibiotic therapy to which the organism exhibited in-vitro sensitivity for at least 24 hours. EBC was a constituent of polymicrobial bacteremia in 6 cases; in 5 instances the associated organisms were also gram-negative bacteria. There were a total of 33 underlying medical conditions or foci of infection associated with EBC bacteremia identified in 27 patients, the most common of which were immune-deficiency state (17) and gastrointestinal tract lesions (6). There were 3 patients who died. EBC bacteremia is a relatively rare pediatric infection. It is commonly nosocomially-acquired, and afflicts children who are younger-aged or compromised by underlying medical problems.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bonadio
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Margolis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tovar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection; D004754:Enterobacter; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents