Antibiotic-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteremia in Febrile Neutropenic Children

Abstract

Children with malignancy receiving chemotherapy are prone to suffer from bacteremia and sepsis, which may conse quently lead to significant neutropenia, loss of mucosal integ rity, and the need for an indwelling central venous catheter. Bacteremia reportedly occurs more often in neutropenic than non-neutropenic episodes (20% vs. 3%) [1], and the presence of sepsis or bacteremia confers a 10-fold increase in the risk of death [2]. Further, febrile episodes are observed in 34% of neutropenic periods in pediatric cancer patients, with bacteremia identified in 10-20% of cases; however, up to 79% of epi sodes of febrile neutropenia are not associated with serious infection [3].