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Predominance of Gram-Positive Microorganisms as a Cause of Septicemia in Patients with Hematological Malignancies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

M. Rubio ,
L. Palau ,
J. Romero Vivas ,
E. del Potro ,
J. Diaz-Mediavilla ,
A. Alvarez ,
R. Martinez  and
J.J. Picazo
M. Rubio
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
L. Palau
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
J. Romero Vivas*
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
E. del Potro
Affiliation:
Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
J. Diaz-Mediavilla
Affiliation:
Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
A. Alvarez
Affiliation:
Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
R. Martinez
Affiliation:
Department of Hematology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
J.J. Picazo
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Madrid, Spain
*
Departamento de Microbiologia, Hospital Universitario San Carlos, Pza de Cristo Rey s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Abstract

Objective:

To ascertain the etiology and outcome of episodes of bacteremia and fungemia over a three-year period (1990-1992) in patients with hematological malignancies.

Design:

Retrospective study.

Setting:

Hematology service of a 1,500-bed Spanish university hospital.

Results:

Of a total of 178 episodes of significant bacteremia or fungemia in 101 patients, 53% affected patients with acute leukemia. Grampositive microorganisms were found to be the cause in 70% of the monomicrobial episodes. The most frequently isolated microorganism was coag-ulase-negative Staphylococcus (35%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (11%). Most bloodstream infections occurred during an episode of neutropenia (59%). A total of 34 patients died during hospitalization; in 14, infection was the cause of death.

Conclusions:

A marked increase in the incidence of bacteremias caused by grampositive microorganisms has been observed in our hospital over the last 10 years, especially in patients with hematological malignancies. The mortality due to bacteremia is similar to that found by other authors in series of bacteremia in hematological patients, and we have not found significant differences in the mortality due to bacteremia between neutropenic and non-neutropenic patients.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , February 1994 , pp. 101 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1994

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