Healthcare-associated infections among patients with different types of acute leukemia in China: A surveillance-based study

Abstract

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) may be diverse among patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However studies were limited. We aimed to quantify and compare the characteristics and relevant factors associated with HAIs among patients with AML and ALL. The surveillance-based study was conducted in a university teaching hospital. All adult patients diagnosed with acute leukemia (AL) and admitted into the Hematology Department for over 48 h were included. HAI characteristics and relevant factors were compared between AML and ALL patients. A consecutive sample of 994 patients with AL was recruited. The proportions of infected cases (27.78% <em>vs</em>. 28.31%, <em>p</em> = 0.888) and the HAI incidence (21.29 <em>vs</em>. 22.82 per 1,000 patient-days at risk, <em>p</em> = 0.733) were comparable among AML and ALL patients, respectively. Compared with ALL patients, higher risks of HAIs were found among AML patients with increasing duration of chemotherapy or lower hemoglobin level. Meanwhile, increased length of stays during previous cycles of chemotherapy, lower level of platelets, and diabetes were associated with higher risks of HAIs among ALL patients compared with AML patients. In conclusion, our results found that AML and ALL patients experienced different risks of HAIs associated with diverse relevant factors. Future multi-center studies are needed to provide stronger evidence.