Prevalence of bloodstream infection pathogens in hemato-oncological patients and predictors of carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacterial infections during febrile neutropenia.

BACKGROUND

Carbapenem-Resistant Gram-Negative (CRGN) Bloodstream Infections (BSI) represent a therapeutic challenge, especially in the context of Febrile Neutropenia (FN) in cancer patients.

METHODS

We characterized pathogens causing BSI in patients aged ≥18 years who had undergone systemic chemotherapy for solid or hematological cancers between 2012 and 2021 in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Predictors of CRGN were evaluated through a case-control analysis. Each case was matched to two controls from whom CRGN were not isolated and had the same sex and year of inclusion in the study.

RESULTS

From 6094 blood cultures evaluated, 1512 (24.8%) showed positive results. Gram-negative bacteria accounted for 537 (35.5%) of the isolated bacteria, of which 93 (17.3%) were carbapenem-resistant. From 105 patients included in the case-control analysis, all cases had baseline hematological malignancies (60% acute myeloid leukemia). Variables related to CRGN BSI in Cox regression analysis were the first chemotherapy session (p<0.01), chemotherapy performed in the hospital setting (p = 0.03), intensive care unit admission (p<0.01), and CRGN isolation in the previous year (p<0.01). Patients with CRGN BSI received 75% less empirical active antibiotics and had 27.2% higher 30-day mortality rates than controls.

CONCLUSIONS

A CRGN risk-guided approach should be considered for empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with FN.