Bacillus cereus infections among oncology patients at a children's hospital.
BACKGROUND
Bacillus cereus can cause severe infections in immunocompromised persons.


METHODS
We report 3 cases of bacteremia/septicemia (1 fatal) among oncology patients in a children's hospital. Because all cases occurred during a 10-day period, a common source outbreak was suspected. An epidemiologic investigation was performed. Molecular comparison of patient and environmental isolates was performed by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
After an extensive investigation, no common hospital source could be found. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis proved that the isolates were not related.


CONCLUSIONS
Sporadic infections in immunocompromised persons do occur and can be associated with significant morbidity.
Christenson
J C
JC
University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Divisions of Infectious Diseases, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Byington
C
C
Korgenski
E K
EK
Adderson
E E
EE
Bruggers
C
C
Adams
R H
RH
Jenkins
E
E
Hohmann
S
S
Carroll
K
K
Daly
J A
JA
Pavia
A T
AT
D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology