Septicemia during antibiotic therapy in neutropenic patients.

Two patients with acute leukemia developed septicemia while receiving antibiotic therapy. In both cases, the microorganism grown from the blood was sensitive to the drugs the patients were receiving. Areas of colonization by the same organisms were found at autopsy in the necrotic spleen and in the necrotic colonic mucosa. Septicemia developing during antibiotic therapy can indicate colonization of necrotic organs and appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures may be necessary.