Abstract
One hundred ninety episodes of septicemia were surveyed from 1973 to 1983 in chlldrens treated for leukemia at Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. The mean number of episodes documented each year was 18 ± 5 (range 10-29) and significant changes in the type of organisms involved were observed, with an increased incidence of Candida (from 0 to 9%) and gram positive septicemia over the last 5 years. Gram positive sepsis had a low mortality rate (8%) compared with gram negative sepsis (54%) or septicemia caused by multiple organisms (72%). Factors of risk included (1) absolute granulocyte count less than 500 (78%), (2) presence of relapse (62%), and (3) prolonged previous administration of broad spectrum antibiotics (35%). Over the last 3 years an increased incidence of gram positive septicemia in non-neutropenic patient was observed. 9 staphylococcus epidermidis septicemia were seen in the last 2 years compared to none in the 8 previous years. 3 of those 9 patients had a central venous line. These data have provided helpful informations in our therapeutic approach of febrile episodes in neutropenic patients.
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Champagne, J., DeClerck, Y. SEPTICEMIA IN CHILDREN WITH LEUKEMIA: A TEN-YEAR SURVEY. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 297 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00780
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00780