Aeromonas Sobria Infection in Patients with Acute Leukemia:Clinical Features and Outcome

Abstract

To investigate the clinical features and outcome of patients with acute leukemia and Aeromonas sobria infection. The clinical data of two patients from Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 1994 to 2014 as well as patients reported in English literature (from PubMed and Medline databases) and Chinese literature (China Hospital Knowledge Database) during the same period were retrospectively analysed. Data were extracted and analyzed using Chi-square tests. Totally 15 patients worldwide were available for analysis with a male-to-female ratio of 12:3 and an acute myeloid leukemia to acute lymphoblastic leukemia ratio of 10:5. The median age was 49.5 years (range:27-80 years). Most patients were neutropenic at the time of onset of fever,and the most common manifestation was lower limb infection (66.7%). Despite empirical antibiotics treatment,the mortality was still as high as 80%. Chi-square tests revealed that among the dead patients,the rates of lower limb infection (P<0.01) and septic shock (P=0.02) were significantly higher. Aeromonas sobria infection is an uncommon but highly fatal condition that requires special attention in clinical settings.