Nosocomial pneumonias in haematological malignancies in the medical intensive care unit

Abstract

30 patients with malignant haematological disorders and nosocomial pneumonia, treated during a three-year period in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital, were studied in retrospect. Twelve patients had received bone marrow or peripheral stem cell transplantations 90 +/- 143 (10 - 546) days prior to ICU admission. Six of these received cyclosporin A. 19 of 30 patients were on corticosteroids and 20 had received courses of chemotherapy within a period of one month prior to ICU admission. Patients presented with signs of pulmonary infection and respiratory failure. In 24 patients the likely causative pathogen for pneumonia could be identified. Gram-negative bacteria (n = 17) were in the majority, lead by Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, and Klebsiella species. Gram-positive bacteria (n = 5) were Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. Infections with Chlamydiae species were diagnosed in two cases. Fungal infections were caused by Candida (n = 8) or Aspergillus species (n = 3) and viral infections by Cytomegalovirus (n = 6). Infections with more than one pathogen were common. Ten patients had pneumonia associated with signs of diffuse pulmonary parenchymal damage of varying degree. 26 patients received mechanical ventilation for 7 +/- 9 (1 - 32) days. The duration of stay in the ICU was 11 +/- 10 (1 - 43) days. 26 of the 30 patients (87 %) died. Patients with haematological malignancies and nosocomial pneumonias have despite medical intensive care treatment a poor prognosis with substantial mortality.