title: Prospective study of 288 episodes of bacteremia in neutropenic cancer patients in a single institution.
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.
authors.affiliation: Service of Hematology, Hospital Duran i Reynals, Ciutat Sanitaria i Universitaria de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: González-Barca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sevilla
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carratalá
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grañena
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudiol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors