ORIGINAL ARTICLE
FEBRIL NEUTROPENIA ETIOLOGY IN A HEMATOLOGY DEPARTMENT
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1
GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Istanbul, Turkey
2
GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Istanbul, Turkey
3
GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Department of Oncology, Istanbul, Turkey
Online publication date: 2008-10-15
Publication date: 2008-10-15
Corresponding author
Alev Akyol Erikçi
Department of Hematology, GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital, Uskudar, Istanbul
Tel: 902165422020/3353, Fax: 902163257257
Eur J Gen Med 2008;5(4):228-231
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ABSTRACT
Aim: Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN) predisposes patients to life-threatening infections and typically requires hospitalization. Patients with profound neutropenia have increased risk of septicemia associated with significant morbidity. To provide the appropriate broad-spectrum antimicrobial cover, documentation of causative agents and their antimicrobial susceptibilities should be established in each hospital.
Methods: The goal of the present study was to investigate the causative microorganisms in 27 febrile neutropenic patients between January 2006 and December 2007.
Results: ln our hematology unit, among 122 febrile neutropenic episodes 57 isolates from cultures of febrile neutropenic patients, gram-negative bacteria was prevalent (45.6%). Among the gram-positives (%42.1% of isolates) coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were the predominant bacteria (13/23) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (7/23). Escherichia coli (14/26) and Klebsiella spp. (7/26) were the most common species among 26 gram-negative bacteria.
Conclusion: The most important issue in febrile neutropenia is still a mortal situation in immunocompromised patients. So documentation of the flora in each unit would help to decide appropriate empirical therapy which is life saving.