Review of Citrobacter bacteremia in cancer patients over a sixteen-year period

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1991 Jun;10(6):479-85. doi: 10.1007/BF01963933.

Abstract

A review was conducted of 65 episodes of Citrobacter bacteremia in cancer patients during a 16-year period. Cases of polymicrobial bacteremia were excluded from this analysis. The infection occurred most commonly in patients with acute leukemia. Most patients acquired the infection in the hospital, and 57% had received antibiotic therapy during the preceding ten days. Fever occurred in 98% of cases and shock in 17%. Thirty-eight percent of patients had concomitant pneumonia. Patients with shock, pneumonia or hemorrhage had a substantially poorer prognosis. The response rate was 72% for patients who received appropriate antibiotics. Patients who continued to have positive blood culture results while receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy had a poor prognosis. Beta-lactam antibiotics were more effective than aminoglycosides.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bacteremia / epidemiology
  • Bacteremia / etiology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Citrobacter / isolation & purification*
  • Citrobacter freundii / isolation & purification
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / etiology*
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / drug therapy
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / epidemiology
  • Enterobacteriaceae Infections / etiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Neutropenia / complications
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Shock / complications
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents