Bloodstream infections in cystic fibrosis: nine years of experience in both adults and children.

BACKGROUND

We report the aetiology and outcome of bloodstream infections (BSI) occurring at two regional cystic fibrosis (CF) centres (one adult, one paediatric) between 1998 and 2006.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of all positive blood cultures during the study period was performed.

RESULTS

During the study period 1691 blood culture sets were taken. Fifty-seven clinically significant episodes of BSI in 48 people with CF (36 adult, 12 paediatric) were identified, along with 28 other episodes considered to be contamination or not clinically significant. The most common BSIs were caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (13) Candida spp (10), and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (8). The majority (82%) of significant BSIs were considered to originate from totally-implantable vascular access devices (TIVADs); only 9% were attributed to the lower respiratory tract. The TIVAD was removed in two-thirds of cases of TIVAD-associated BSI. There were three deaths (60% of cases) attributable to BSI originating from the lower respiratory tract but no deaths attributable to TIVAD-associated BSI.

CONCLUSION

Most significant BSIs in patients with CF originate from TIVADs. Targeted antimicrobial therapy and appropriate early device removal is associated with good clinical outcome. BSI originating from the lower respiratory tract is associated with poor clinical outcome.