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Supportive Care in Cancer
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer 9/2008

01-09-2008 | Original Article

Emergence of MRSA in positive blood cultures from patients with febrile neutropenia—a cause for concern

Authors: Patrick G. Morris, Tidi Hassan, Mairead McNamara, Astrid Hassan, Rebecca Wiig, Liam Grogan, Oscar S. Breathnach, Edmond Smyth, Hilary Humphreys

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 9/2008

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Abstract

Goals of work

Febrile neutropenia (FN) causes considerable morbidity in patients on cytotoxic chemotherapy. Recently, there has been a trend towards fewer Gram-negative and more Gram-positive infections with increasing antibiotic resistance. To assess these patterns, data from a supra-regional cancer centre in Ireland were reviewed.

Patients and methods

A 5-year review of all positive blood cultures in patients undergoing anti-cancer chemotherapy was carried out.

Main results

Eight hundred and ninety-four patients were reviewed. The mean incidence of FN was 64.2 cases per year. Eight hundred and forty-six blood culture specimens were taken and 173 (20.4%) were culture positive. The isolated organisms were Gram positive (71.1%), Gram negative (27.8%) and fungal (1.1%). Of the Gram-positive organisms, 75.6% were staphylococci. Of these, 67.8% were coagulase-negative staphylococci and 30.1% were Staphylococci aureus. Amongst the S. aureus, 89.3% were methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Vancomycin-resistant enterococci were not identified as a cause of positive blood cultures.

Conclusions

Amongst patients with cancer who develop FN in our hospital, Gram-positive bacteria account for the largest proportion. The high proportion of MRSA as a cause of positive blood cultures is of concern.
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Metadata
Title
Emergence of MRSA in positive blood cultures from patients with febrile neutropenia—a cause for concern
Authors
Patrick G. Morris
Tidi Hassan
Mairead McNamara
Astrid Hassan
Rebecca Wiig
Liam Grogan
Oscar S. Breathnach
Edmond Smyth
Hilary Humphreys
Publication date
01-09-2008
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 9/2008
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0398-5

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