Patterns of bacteremia in cancer patient with febrile neutropenia at King Abdullah University Hospital – Jordan 2003–2008

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia with positive blood culture in children admitted to King Abdallah University Hospital between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2008 were enrolled. 167 patients prediagnosed with malignancy (94; 56% male and 73; 44% female) with a mean age of 7 years (range: 1–17 years) were enrolled in this study. One hundred patients (60%) had gram positive bacteria, while forty eight patients (29%) had gram negative bacteria, and only 19 patients (11%) had fungal infection. Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus was the most common gram positive organism (59%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (28%). Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common gram negative organism (25%), followed by Escherichia coli (19%). Finally, all of fungal infection caused by Candida species . Ten of the blood cultures with S. aureus were Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and one was intermediate to Vancomycin. All Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to Vancomycin and Teicoplanin except one was intermediate to Vancomycin. Ten percent of the gram negative organisms were Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers (ESBL). All Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms were sensitive to Piperacillin-Tazobactam, and Carbapenems. All Enterobacter species were sensitive to Aminoglycosides, Carbapenems and 4 th generation Cephalosporin. Gram-positive organisms are the predominant isolates in febrile neutropenic episodes in this cohort of patients.