title: Bacteraemia due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: an analysis of 45 episodes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important nosocomial pathogen and a therapeutic challenge. A ten-year review of episodes of bacteraemia due to S. maltophilia was undertaken in light of reports of an increasing frequency of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis of bloodstream infections due toS. maltophilia at a tertiary care hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Cases were identified via microbiology laboratory reports, and relevant clinical data were collected from the medical record of each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty per cent of these 45 episodes were nosocomial. The most common characteristics in cases of bacteraemia were the presence of an indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) (38/45, 84%) and previous antibiotic therapy (33/45, 73%). There were 8 deaths (8/44, 18%) within 7 days of bacteraemia. A significant correlation was found between deaths and a failure to remove the CVC (P = 0.01) or treat with appropriate antimicrobials (P = 0.01). Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that isolates were most sensitive to sulphamethoxazole (80%), chloramphenicol (75.5%) and ceftazidime (64.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. maltophilia is an important pathogen especially in the highly compromised host. Isolation of this organism from a blood culture should prompt a careful review of the patient with particular emphasis on removal of indwelling CVCs and commencement of appropriate antibiotic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Alfred Hospital, Prahran, Victoria, Australia. fried021@mc.duke.edu
authors.forename: N D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Korman
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Fairley
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Spelman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001315:Australia; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020615:Stenotrophomonas maltophilia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents