Infections in patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia nursed with central or peripheral venous access.
OBJECTIVE
Infections are a major problem in patients undergoing induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia. Granulocytopenia is the single most important risk factor, but the pattern of infecting organisms can change according to nursing facilities or bacterial and fungal prophylaxis.


METHODS
We reviewed the patterns and types of infections in 30 patients with acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. Eighty-nine periods of neutropenia following chemotherapy were evaluated: in 60 courses patients had central and in 29 had peripheral venous access.


RESULTS
Almost all patients (97%) became febrile after the 1st course of therapy, but one-third remained apyretic after the fourth course (P = 0.002). In this series, the incidence of gram-positive, gram-negative and mycotic isolations were respectively 76%, 18% and 6%. The need for antimicrobic treatment varied in relation to the course of chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia the first neutropenic period following the onset of disease is the most critical regarding infectious problems. Both quinolonic prophylaxis and central venous access could be responsible for the microbiologic findings.
Fasola
G
G
Chair of Hematology, University of Udine School of Medicine, Italy.
Savignano
C
C
Revignas
M G
MG
Virgolini
L
L
Baccarani
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009181:Mycoses / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents