[Frequent infections of neutropenic pediatric patients and therapeutic modalities]

Magy Onkol. 2000 Dec 1;44(4):289-295.
[Article in Hungarian]

Abstract

Neutropenia, resulting from intensive chemotherapy is a common problem. The appearance of fever in neutropenic patients should always raise the suspicion of infection and should be followed by an intensive diagnostic evaluation and start of antibacterial treatment. The authors analyzed the association between isolated bacteria from blood cultures and the clinical background of all febrile episodes that occurred in neutropenic children in a two-year long period. Comparable to the international trends, our results suggest an increased prevalence of the Gram-positive organisms causing bacteriaemia. The clear majority of the isolated bacteria was coagulase-negativ Staphylococcus (cnS), which is a multiresistant strain, and sensitive only to the glycopeptide antibiotics. This latter fact can be a consequence of the frequent use of central venous catheters. The empirical therapy, the therapy used in microbiologically and clinically proved infections, and the supplementary and prophylactic methods of treatment are presented.