Abstract
Objective: The rapid detection of blood stream infection has the potential to not only improve patient outcomes due to quicker administration of appropriate antibiotics but also improve antibiotic stewardship by reducing patient exposures to ineffective or unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics. Methods: In this study blood samples from acute leukemia neutropenic patients (samples under study) and non neutropenic patients (control) were tested using cultural and non-cultural based techniques via blood culture, C-reactive protein (CRP), Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and Molecular techniques (bacterial 16S rDNA analysis). Results: About 22% & 15% were shown positive in blood culturing; 94% & 85% were positive for CRP; 86% and 75% were presented by elevation in ESR rate for the first hour; 94% and 80% were presented by elevation in ESR rate for second hour. Treatment response of the positive cases by blood culture only was found to be 72.7% and 100% not in remission for samples under study and control respectively. In cases under study there is statistically significant correlation between culture growth sensitivity and PCR technique with P value 0.005.
Highlights
Bloodstream infection (BSI) in neutropenic patients, is a severe complication and is associated with increased mortality
Seventy new cases of leukemia patients (AL) haven’t received therapy presented by fever and infection, 50 cases of neutropenic acute leukemia patients with the mean age (13.26 ± 11.67) years and age range from 1 to 46 years old, 37 (74%) patients were younger than 18 years old, are compared to 20 cases of non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with mean age (20.55 ± 19.061) years and age range from 3 to 64 years old, 13 (65%) patients were younger than 18 years old
Among neutropenic acute leukemia patients, 29 patients (58%) were males and 21 patients (42%) were females, 33 (66%) patients were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 17 (34%) were diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 47patients (94%) positive for C-reactive protein (CRP) test, 43 patients (86%) and 47 patients (94%) presented by elevation in Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) rate for first and second hour respectively
Summary
Bloodstream infection (BSI) in neutropenic patients, is a severe complication and is associated with increased mortality. BSI is routinely diagnosed with blood culture, which detects only culturable pathogens [1]. BSI is treated with broad-spectrum of empirical antimicrobials, due to the lack of specificity or resistance mechanisms. Blood culture only detects culturable pathogens and represents a narrow spectrum of the microbes present in a sample, it requires relatively large volumes of samples [6]. In hemato-logical malignancies the most commonly detected pathogens are bacteria, fungal and viral infections represent in major complications [1] [6] and [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
