Bacteria Causing Bacteremia in Pediatric Cancer Patients Presenting with Febrile Neutropenia--species Distribution and Susceptibility Patterns

Overview

Journal Support Care Cancer

Specialties Critical Care
Oncology

Date 2013 Apr 13

PMID 23579946

Citations 19

Authors

Karin G E Miedema

Rik H L J Winter

Roland A Ammann

Sara Droz

Lodewijk Spanjaard

Eveline S J M de Bont

Willem A Kamps

Marianne D van de Wetering

Wim J E Tissing

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric cancer patients. The aim of this study was to establish the microbiological spectrum and the susceptibility patterns of bacteremia-causing bacteria in pediatric cancer patients with febrile neutropenia in relation to the use of prophylactic and empirical antibiotics.

Methods: We analyzed positive blood cultures of pediatric cancer patients presenting with febrile neutropenia between 2004 and 2011 in Groningen and Amsterdam (the Netherlands) and in Bern (Switzerland), using different antibiotic prophylactic and empirical regimens.

Results: A total of 156 patients with 202 bacteremias, due to 248 bacteria species, were enrolled. The majority (73%) of bacteremias were caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative bacteria, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were observed significantly more often in Bern, where no fluoroquinolone prophylaxis was used. Ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria were cultured more often from patients who did receive ciprofloxacin prophylaxis, compared to the patients who did not (57 versus 11%, p = 0.044).

Conclusions: Gram-positive bacteria predominated in this study. We showed that the use of prophylactic antibiotics in pediatric cancer patients was associated with increased resistance rates, which needs further study. The strategy for empiric antimicrobial therapy for febrile neutropenia should be adapted to local antibiotic resistance patterns.

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