Aetiology of Bacteraemia as a Risk Factor for Septic Shock at the Onset of Febrile Neutropaenia in Adult Cancer Patients
Table 1
Study population characteristics and microorganisms isolated in 115 cases of febrile neutropenia (FN) in hospitalised cancer patients with documented bloodstream infection.
Age, mean years ± SD
Female sex
52 (45.2)
Type of cancer
Acute myeloid leukaemia
59 (51.3)
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
19 (16.5)
Chronic myeloid leukaemia
7 (6.1)
Multiple myeloma
11 (9.6)
Lymphoma
15 (13.0)
Other solid tumours
4 (3.5)
Relapsing underlying disease
59 (51.3)
Clinical comorbidity
36 (31.3)
Phase of chemotherapy
Induction
27 (23.5)
Consolidation
37 (32.2)
Maintenance
26 (22.6)
HSCT
25 (21.7)
Oral mucositis
Without oral mucositis
59 (51.3)
Grade I
33 (28.7)
Grade II
10 (8.7)
Grade III
6 (5.2)
Grade IV
7 (6.1)
ANC at the time of diagnosis of FN, mean cells/mm³ ± SD
Profound neutropenia at the time of diagnosis of FN*
52 (45.2)
Nosocomial-acquired episodes of FN
102 (88.7)
Bloodstream isolates†
Escherichia coli
48 (41.7)
Coagulase-negative staphylococci
36 (31.3)
Klebsiella pneumonia
13 (11.3)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
11 (9.5)
Viridans streptococci
8 (6.9)
Enterococcus spp.
4 (3.4)
Serratia spp.
2 (1.7)
Enterobacter spp.
2 (1.7)
Candida spp.
2 (1.7)
Salmonella spp.
1 (0.8)
Staphylococcus aureus
1 (0.8)
Kocuria varians
1 (0.8)
Data presented as (%) unless otherwise indicated. SD: standard deviation; ANC: absolute neutrophil count; HSCT: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation; *ANC < 100 cells/mm³; †There were 12 cases of polymicrobial bloodstream infections.
