Recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia. A warning of immunodeficiency

Recurrent pneumococcal infections are known to occur occasionally in patients with profound immune defects. We performed a case-control analysis of recurrent pneumococcal bacteremias).

The 547 episodes of Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia detected from January 1, 1985, to December 31, 1994, were reviewed. We selected all cases with more than 1 episode separated by 30 days or more ("cases") and compared each of them with 2 controls (patients with single episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia).

Fifteen patients (2.8%) had 31 episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia. Except for multiple myeloma (P < .02), the underlying disease was remarkably similar among patients with single and recurrent episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia. However, among patients positive for human immunodeficiency virus infection, those who had recurrences were at a more advanced stage of their disease than those who did not. The presence of an ultimately fatal underlying condition was more frequent in case patients (P < .001). Overall, 47% of the patients with recurrences died during their second episode of pneumococcal bacteremia.

Our data suggest that recurrence is more than anecdotal in patients with bacteremic infections caused by S pneumoniae (2.8%). We believe that recurrence is a warning sign of immunodeficiency. Patients with multiple myeloma, human immunodeficiency virus infection, solid organ tumors, and chronic liver disease with bacteremic pneumococcal infections should be offered antipneumococcal vaccine and other potentially preventive measures, despite doubts about their efficacy. This is justified by the high mortality rate associated with recurrent episodes (47%).