Bacteremia due to Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia: a prospective, multicenter study of 91 episodes

Clin Infect Dis. 1996 Mar;22(3):508-12. doi: 10.1093/clinids/22.3.508.

Abstract

We identified 91 cases of bacteremia due to Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia in a prospective, multicenter observational study. The patients were highly compromised; the majority had an underlying malignancy, had received immunosuppressive therapy, and had indwelling venous catheters. Although 94% of patients received an antimicrobial agent to which the blood isolate was susceptible, the mortality among these patients 14 days after the onset of bacteremia was 21%. Mortality was significantly correlated with the presence of a hematologic malignancy or neutropenia or transplantation, immunosuppressive therapy, and a severity-of-illness score of > 4. S. maltophilia infection is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality among highly compromised patients. The organism is typically resistant to expanded spectrum beta-lactam agents and aminoglycoside antibiotics. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole should be administered if the isolate is susceptible to this combination; addition of another agent to which the isolate is susceptible should be considered in treating patients who are neutropenic, immunocompromised, or critically ill.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia / complications
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Bacteremia / microbiology*
  • Bacteremia / mortality
  • Causality
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / complications
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology*
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / mortality
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Xanthomonas / drug effects
  • Xanthomonas / isolation & purification*