title: Nutritionally variant streptococci bacteremia in cancer patients: a retrospective study, 1999-2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nutritionally variant Streptococci (NVS), Abiotrophia and Granulicatella are implicated in causing endocarditis and blood stream infections more frequently than other sites of infection. Neutropenia and mucositis are the most common predisposing factors for infection with other pathogens in cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics of NVS bacteremia in cancer patients and identified risk factors and outcomes associated with these infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed all cases of NVS bacteremia occurring from June 1999 to April 2014 at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. The computerized epidemiology report provided by the microbiology laboratory identified thirteen cancer patients with NVS bacteremia. We collected data regarding baseline demographics and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, underlying malignancy, neutropenic status, duration of neutropenia, treatment, and outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen patients were identified with positive NVS blood stream infection. Ten patients (77%) had hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)(1), multiple myeloma (MM)(1), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)(4), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL)(4). The non-hematologic malignancies included esophageal cancer(2) and bladder cancer (1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NVS should be considered as a possible agent of bacteremia in cancer patients with neutropenia and a breach in oral, gastrointestinal and genitourinary mucosa (gingivitis/mucositis).
authors.affiliation: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. 12902 Magnolia Drive. Tampa, Florida 33612-9497.
authors.forename: Abraham T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Yacoub
authors.affiliation: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. 12902 Magnolia Drive. Tampa, Florida 33612-9497.
authors.forename: Jayasree
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krishnan
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, 1 Tampa General Circle, G323.
authors.forename: Ileana M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Acevedo
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease and International Medicine, 1 Tampa General Circle, G323.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halliday
authors.affiliation: H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. 12902 Magnolia Drive. Tampa, Florida 33612-9497.
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Greene