[Frequent infections of neutropenic pediatric patients and therapeutic modalities]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Infectious Diseases
• Hematology-Oncology
• Clinical Microbiology

Background:

• Neutropenia, often caused by chemotherapy, increases infection risk in children.
• Fever in neutropenic patients necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment for potential infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the association between bacteria isolated from blood cultures and the clinical context of febrile episodes in neutropenic children.
• To identify prevalent bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of blood cultures from febrile neutropenic children over a two-year period.
• Correlation of isolated microorganisms with clinical data and treatment outcomes.

Main Results:

• Gram-positive organisms were the predominant cause of bacteremia, aligning with international trends.
• Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) was the most frequently isolated bacterium, exhibiting multidrug resistance.
• CoNS isolates were primarily sensitive only to glycopeptide antibiotics, potentially linked to central venous catheter use.

Conclusions:

• Increased prevalence of Gram-positive bacteria, especially multidrug-resistant CoNS, is a significant concern in febrile neutropenic children.
• Treatment strategies must consider the high resistance rates of common pathogens like CoNS.
• The findings underscore the importance of targeted antimicrobial therapy and infection control measures, including catheter care.