Changing aetiology, clinical features, antimicrobial resistance, and outcomes of bloodstream infection in neutropenic cancer patients.

Recent changes in the management of patients with haematological malignancies might have influenced the aetiology, characteristics, antimicrobial resistance and outcomes of bloodstream infection (BSI) during neutropenia. We compared 272 episodes of BSI in adult neutropenic patients with cancer prospectively collected from January 1991 to December 1996 (first period), when quinolone prophylaxis was used, with 283 episodes recorded from January 2006 to March 2010 (second period), when antibacterial prophylaxis was stopped. Patients in the second period were significantly older and were more likely to have graft-versus-host disease and a urinary catheter in place, whereas the presence of a central venous catheter, parenteral nutrition, corticosteroids and antifungal and quinolone prophylaxis, were more frequent in the first period.

Bacteraemia due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli in cancer patients: risk factors, antibiotic therapy and outcomes.

Objectives: To assess the risk factors, antibiotic therapy and outcomes of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (MDRGNB) bacteraemia in hospitalized patients with cancer.

Methods: Episodes of MDRGNB bacteraemia were compared with a susceptible control group in a 4 year prospective study.

Results: Of 747 bacteraemias, 372 (49.

Effect of statins on outcomes in immunosuppressed patients with bloodstream infection.

Although it has been suggested that statins have a beneficial effect on the outcome of bloodstream infection (BSI) in immunosuppressed patients, prospective studies testing this hypothesis are lacking. We performed an observational analysis of consecutive cancer patients and transplant recipients hospitalized at two tertiary hospitals in Spain (2006-2009). The first episode of BSI occurring in statin users was compared with those occurring in non-statin users.

Bacteraemia due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) in cancer patients: clinical features, risk factors, molecular epidemiology and outcome.

Objectives: To assess the clinical features, risk factors, molecular epidemiology and outcome of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) bacteraemia in hospitalized cancer patients.

Methods: Episodes of ESBL-EC bacteraemia were compared with a susceptible control group in a 3 year prospective study. ESBL-EC strains were studied by PCR and isoelectric focusing, and molecular typing was performed by PFGE.

[Impact of a prevention program for catheter-related bloodstream infection in the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital].

Introduction: Catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) is a cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care units, and the optimal approach for preventing these infections is not well defined. Comparison of CR-BSI rates with those provided by programs such as the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NNISS) from the USA and the Spanish National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Study (ENVIN), enable determination of the need to implement control measures. In 2000, we found that the CR-BSI rates in UCIs of our hospital were much higher than the data reported by ENVIN.