Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Jordan University of Science
and Technology, Irbid, Jordan | Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid,
Jordan
Note: [] Correspondence: Suleimman Al-Sweedan, MD, MS, FAAP, Associate
Professor, Chairman, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology/BMT, King Abdalla University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine,
Jordan University of Science & Technology, P.O Box 4614, Irbid 21110
Jordan. Tel.: +962 799051255; E-mail: sweedan@just.edu.jo
Abstract: Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia with positive blood culture
in children admitted to King Abdallah University Hospital between January 1,
2003 and December 31, 2008 were enrolled. 167 patients prediagnosed with
malignancy (94; 56% male and 73; 44% female) with a mean age of 7 years
(range: 1–17 years) were enrolled in this study. One hundred patients (60%)
had gram positive bacteria, while forty eight patients (29%) had gram
negative bacteria, and only 19 patients (11%) had fungal infection.
Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus was the most common gram positive organism
(59%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (28%).
Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most common gram negative organism
(25%), followed by Escherichia coli (19%). Finally, all of fungal
infection caused by Candida species. Ten of the blood cultures with
S. aureus were Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and one was
intermediate to Vancomycin. All Enterococcus isolates were susceptible to
Vancomycin and Teicoplanin except one was intermediate to Vancomycin. Ten
percent of the gram negative organisms were Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase
producers (ESBL). All Pseudomonas aeruginosa organisms were sensitive to
Piperacillin-Tazobactam, and Carbapenems. All Enterobacter species were
sensitive to Aminoglycosides, Carbapenems and 4th generation
Cephalosporin. Gram-positive organisms are the predominant isolates in febrile
neutropenic episodes in this cohort of patients.
