Fever and granulocytopenia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under induction therapy.
OBJECTIVE
Infection is one of the most serious complications of cancer therapy. The rationale of using broad spectrum antibiotics prophylactically has led to a great change in the causative organisms. The aim of the present study is to review retrospectively the type and sequence of infectious complications among Saudi children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.


METHODS
A total of 233 febrile episodes were observed in 137 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia under induction therapy using modified BFM protocol were studied.


RESULTS
Profound neutropenia (Absolute Neutrophil count < 100/mm3) was encountered in 72 episodes (31%). Clinical signs and symptoms suggestive of infection were evident in 39% of the neutropenic episodes. The respiratory system was the most frequently affected site encountered in 17% of the episodes. Microbiologically documented infection was recorded in 59% (n=137) of the fever and granulocytopenia episodes. In 96 episodes (41%), there was neither clinical nor microbiological evidence of infection fever of unknown origin. Out of the 932 cultures, positive isolates were detected in 346 cultures (37%). Gram positive cocci were the most frequently organisms (54%) followed by gram negative bacilli (39%). In the current study, 7 patients (3%) died because of direct or indirect consequences of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The current study stresses the importance of frequent reviewing of the type, frequency, severity and outcome of infection complications over years to detect changing epidemiological patterns.
Meir
H M
HM
Department of Oncology, King Abdulaziz Hospital and Oncology Center, PO Box 31467, Jeddah 21497, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. hadirmeir@hotmail.com
Balawi
I A
IA
Meer
H M
HM
Nayel
H
H
Al-Mobarak
M F
MF
D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D009504:Neutrophils; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents