title: High rates of resistance to cephalosporins among viridans-group streptococci causing bacteraemia in neutropenic cancer patients.
abstract: The prevalence of resistance to cephalosporins among viridans-group streptococci causing 88 (18%) cases among 485 bacteraemias in neutropenic cancer patients was studied. Rates of resistance to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime, cefpirome and cefepime were 22, 53, 14 and 34%, respectively. Previous administration of beta-lactam therapy was the only factor significantly associated with bacteraemia due to cephalosporin-resistant strains; only 11 (16%) of 68 patients infected with cephalosporin-susceptible bacteria had received these antibiotics compared with 10 (50%) of 20 patients infected with cephalosporin-resistant bacteria (P = 0.0052).
authors.affiliation: Services of Infectious Diseases, Hospital de Bellvitge, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Ciutat Sanitària i Universitària de Bellvitge, University of Barcelona, Spain. jcarratala@csub.scs.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marron
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Carratalà
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alcaide
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández-Sevilla
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gudiol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000209:etiology*; D018550:Cephalosporin Resistance / Q000235:genetics; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D002511:Cephalosporins