The Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Etiologic Agents Isolated From Bacteremia Episodes Among Immunocompromised Patients

Abstract

Objective: Bacteremia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the etiology of bacteremia and the antibiotic susceptibilities of etiologic agents among immunocompromised patients followed up from January 1, 2012 to July 30, 2013.

Methods: Immunocompromised patients, both inpatient and outpatient treated in our hospital, were followed prospectively. The definition of "immunocompromised patients" consisted of solid organ (kidney, liver) transplantation recipients and hemato-oncologic malignancy patients with a history of chemotherapy in the previous month before bacteremia.

Results: This prospective study comprised of 167 bacteremia episodes of 130 consecutive immunocompromised patients. The most isolated group of bacteria was Gram-negative bacteria. Escherichia coli was the most commonly (30.8%) isolated bacteria and the second was coagulase-negative staphylococci (15.1%). Fifty one percent of the E. coli isolates were extended-spectrum beta-lactamasepositive. Acinetobacter baumannii was the second most common bacteria of Gram-negative agents and the ratio of multiple drug-resistant (MDR) isolates among Acinetobacter isolates was 73%.

Conclusions: Gram-negative bacteria are the most common causative agents of bacteremia in immunocompromised patients in our hospital. The rising ratio of MDR A. baumannii is a striking problem which causes difficult-to-treat infections.