title: Infection profile of patients undergoing autologous bone marrow transplantation in a Brazilian institution.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been widely used for treating oncological and hematological diseases. Although HSCT has helped to improve patient survival, the risk of developing infection during hospitalization is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to analyze the infection profile during hospitalization and the associated risk factors among patients undergoing autologous HSCT at the University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study on patients undergoing autologous HSCT at a public university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with febrile neutropenia between 2004 and 2009 were retrospectively evaluated regarding their infection profile and associated risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Infection occurred in 57.2% of 112 patients with febrile neutropenia. The main source of infection was the central venous catheter (25.9%). Infection was chiefly due to Gram-positive bacteria, although Gram-negative-related infections were more severe and caused a higher death rate. Sex, age, skin color, nutritional status and underlying disease were not associated with the development of infection. Patients with severe mucositis (Grades III and IV) had a higher infection rate (P < 0.001). Patients who developed pulmonary complications during hospitalization had higher infection rates (P = 0.002). Infection was the main cause of death (57.1%) in the study sample.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Strategies aimed at reducing infection-related mortality rates among patients undergoing autologous HSCT are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. kelli.borges@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Kelli Borges
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Abrahão Elias Hallack
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.forename: Girlene Alves
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atalla
authors.forename: Marcus Matta
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: Luiz Cláudio
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052016:Mucositis / Q000150:complications; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D055815:Young Adult