BLOOD STREAM INFECTION AMONG THE FEBRILE NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS SUFFER-ING FROM HEMATOLOGICAL DISORDERS AT A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE, NORTH INDIA

Abstract

Introduction: Blood stream infections are the common infectious consequence in neutropenic patients suffering from the hematological malignancies. These infections are usually caused by a diverse group of microbes.

Material and methods: A pair of blood culture was executed in the febrile neutropenic patients suffering from hematological disorders, to observe the microbiology of the blood stream infections. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed as per standard microbiological procedures.

Results: In the present study, 27% of blood culture positivity (27/100) was observed among the enrolled febrile neutropenic patients. Gram-positive cocci including Staphylococcus aures (n=15), Coagulase negative staphylococci (n=8), Enterococcus fecalis (n1) were the predominance in comparison to Gram negative microbes (one each isolate of Klebsiella pneumonaie, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). All the isolated Gram-positive microbes were sensitive to vancomycin and linezolid. 65.2% of isolated Staphylococci were methicillin resistant (15/23). One MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae strain was also isolated, having a susceptibility to only carbapenem and polymyxin B.

Conclusion: Blood culture and susceptibility testing should be performed in each case of febrile neutropenia as blood stream infections among these patients are caused by a divergent group of microbes having a varied susceptibility pattern.