PURPOSE: We evaluated epidemiological and clinical features of candidemia in neonates and children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of hospitalized neonates and children with positive blood cultures for Candida species from September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2006. RESULTS: Among 39 total neonates and children with candidemia, the median age was 4 months (interquartile range, 1-28) and overall mortality was 33%. Candida species included: Candida albicans (56%), Candida parapsilosis (23%) and Candida glabrata (15%). There was a tendency of proportional increase of candidemia due to non-albicans species (13% in 2001 vs 91% in 2006; P=0.01). Compared with children older than 1 month of age, the proportion of C. parapsilosis was significantly higher in neonates with candidemia (58% vs 7%; P=0.001). C. albicans was isolated more commonly from those who had undergone surgical intervention before candidemia (55% vs 18%; P<0.05). C. parapsilosis was isolated more commonly from premature neonates (78% vs 27%; P=0.015). C. glabrata was isolated more commonly from those who had neutropenia before candidemia (67% vs 12%; P=0.011). CONCLUSION: Candidemia by C. albicans was more commonly in surgical patients; by C. parapsilosis in premature neonates; by C. glabrata in neutropenic patients.
Candida ; Candida albicans ; Candida glabrata ; Candidemia* ; Candidiasis, Invasive ; Child* ; Epidemiology* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: We evaluated epidemiological and clinical features of candidemia in neonates and children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of hospitalized neonates and children with positive blood cultures for Candida species from September 1, 2000 through August 31, 2006. RESULTS: Among 39 total neonates and children with candidemia, the median age was 4 months (interquartile range, 1-28) and overall mortality was 33%. Candida species included: Candida albicans (56%), Candida parapsilosis (23%) and Candida glabrata (15%). There was a tendency of proportional increase of candidemia due to non-albicans species (13% in 2001 vs 91% in 2006; P=0.01). Compared with children older than 1 month of age, the proportion of C. parapsilosis was significantly higher in neonates with candidemia (58% vs 7%; P=0.001). C. albicans was isolated more commonly from those who had undergone surgical intervention before candidemia (55% vs 18%; P<0.05). C. parapsilosis was isolated more commonly from premature neonates (78% vs 27%; P=0.015). C. glabrata was isolated more commonly from those who had neutropenia before candidemia (67% vs 12%; P=0.011). CONCLUSION: Candidemia by C. albicans was more commonly in surgical patients; by C. parapsilosis in premature neonates; by C. glabrata in neutropenic patients.
Candida ; Candida albicans ; Candida glabrata ; Candidemia* ; Candidiasis, Invasive ; Child* ; Epidemiology* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

INTRODUCTIONTreatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) using intensive chemotherapy has resulted in high cure rates but also substantial morbidity. Infective complications represent a significant proportion of treatment-related toxicity. The objective of this study was to describe the microbiological aetiology and clinical outcome of episodes of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropaenia in a cohort of children treated for ALL at our institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODSPatients with ALL were treated with either the HKSGALL93 or the Malaysia-Singapore (Ma-Spore) 2003 chemotherapy protocols. The records of 197 patients who completed the intensive phase of treatment, defined as the period of treatment from induction, central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy to reinduction from June 2000 to January 2010 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTSThere were a total of 587 episodes of febrile neutropaenia in 197 patients, translating to an overall rate of 2.98 episodes per patient. A causative pathogen was isolated in 22.7% of episodes. An equal proportion of Gram-positive bacteria (36.4%) and Gram-negative bacteria (36.4%) were most frequently isolated followed by viral pathogens (17.4%), fungal pathogens (8.4%) and other bacteria (1.2%). Fungal organisms accounted for a higher proportion of clinically severe episodes of febrile neutropaenia requiring admission to the high-dependency or intensive care unit (23.1%). The overall mortality rate from all episodes was 1.5%.

CONCLUSIONFebrile neutropaenia continues to be of concern in ALL patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy. The majority of episodes will not have an identifiable causative organism. Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria were the most common causative pathogens identified. With appropriate antimicrobial therapy and supportive management, the overall risk of mortality from febrile neutropaenia is extremely low.

Candidiasis ; epidemiology ; Chemotherapy-Induced Febrile Neutropenia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Child ; Cohort Studies ; Escherichia coli Infections ; epidemiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Influenza, Human ; epidemiology ; Klebsiella Infections ; epidemiology ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Pseudomonas Infections ; epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Staphylococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Virus Diseases ; epidemiology

INTRODUCTIONStenotrophomonas maltophilia is an aerobic gram-negative bacillus that is a frequent coloniser of fluids used in the hospital setting. It causes infection in immunosuppressed hosts, especially those who are neutropaenic, on chemotherapy and broad spectrum antibiotics. Skin and soft tissue manifestations of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection are becoming an increasingly recognised entity; the clinical spectrum ranges from mucocutaneous, skin to soft tissue infections.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe present a case of an 8-year-old girl with acute myeloid leukaemia who developed metastatic skin lesions secondary to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia. The authors reviewed a total of 24 reported cases of mucocutaneous, skin and soft tissue infections by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The presentations include metastatic cellulitis, primary cellulitis and infected mucocutaneous ulcers.

RESULTSThis is the first locally reported case of metastatic nodular skin lesions caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia. This is also the first reported paediatric case of embolic skin lesions caused by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Of the 6 cases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia bacteraemia seen in the paediatric oncology patients from year 2000 to 2004 at our hospital, only 1 case developed metastatic skin lesions.

CONCLUSIONStenotrophomonas maltophilia skin infection should be included into the list of differential diagnoses for metastatic skin lesions in neutropaenic patients, especially with an underlying haematologic malignancy who has received recent chemotherapy and broad spectrum antibiotics. Haematologic malignancy, transplantation, neutropaenic, immunosuppressive therapy and a high severity of illness score were important prognostic factors.

Acute Disease ; Anti-Infective Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Cellulitis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Child ; Comorbidity ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; complications ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid ; epidemiology ; Neutropenia ; epidemiology ; Prognosis ; Skin Diseases, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination ; therapeutic use

INTRODUCTIONFebrile neutropenia (FN) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in oncology and haematology units worldwide. The overall mortality in hospital surveys in Singapore surveys on post-chemotherapy FN has ranged between 3.0% and 8.8%. However, recent evidence indicates that outpatient management of patients with low-risk FN is safe and cost-effective.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe conducted a prospective audit on a cohort of adult patients with post-chemotherapy FN seen at 2 local public sector cancer centres over a 1-year period in order to define their epidemiological characteristics and outcomes, and also to assess the uptake of early discharge/outpatient management strategies for these patients.

RESULTSWe reviewed 306 FN episodes from 248 patients. Patient characteristics and outcomes were similar between both institutions. Eleven (3.7%) FN episodes were managed as outpatient and none developed complications. Overall 30-day mortality was 6.6%, while the median length of stay (LOS) was 7 days (IQR: 4 to 11 days). The only independent risk factor for mortality was severe sepsis (OR:13.19; 95% CI: 1.98 to 87.7; P = 0.008). Factors independently associated with a longer LOS were vancomycin prescription (coefficient: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.41; P = 0.003), longer duration of intravenous antibiotics (coefficient: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.10; P <0.001), and prior review by an infectious diseases physician (coefficient: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.31; P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONThis audit demonstrated that mortality from FN in our 2 cancer centres is low and comparable to international institutions. It also demonstrates that outpatient management of FN is safe in selected patients, and can be further expanded for right-siting of resources.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Fever ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Neutropenia ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

PURPOSE: The goal of this registry was to collect patient characteristics and safety data from patients from the Asia-Pacific region with early breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy containing docetaxel (Taxotere(R)). METHODS: This registry was open-label, international, longitudinal, multicenter, and observational in design and included a prospective group of consecutive early breast cancer patients with an intermediate-to-high risk of recurrence being treated with various docetaxel-based (anthracycline and non-anthracycline) adjuvant chemotherapy regimens during 2009-2013 in real-world clinical settings. RESULTS: The analysis included 1,712 patients, 79% of whom received docetaxel-based, anthracycline-containing regimens, while 21% received non-anthracycline-containing regimens. Patients receiving adjuvant docetaxel-based chemotherapy were followed for 1.5 years. Chemotherapy-related adverse events (AEs) were reported by 76.2% of patients (anthracycline-containing vs. non-anthracycline-containing regimens: 76.8% vs. 74.1%). Serious AEs were reported in 12% of patients (12.3% vs. 10%). National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 3 or higher neutropenia was reported in 20% of patients (21.6% vs. 13.9%), leukopenia in 7.4% of patients (5.4% vs. 14.8%), and vomiting in 1.6% of patients (1.8% vs. 0.6%). Treatment-related death was reported in 27 patients (1.6%), while only 3% of patients had a relapse. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratios increased after chemotherapy. A clinically insignificant reduction of 1.9% in left ventricular ejection fraction, from 66.43 to 64.53, was observed 1.5 years after therapy was completed. CONCLUSION: The Asia-Pacific Breast initiative II registry identified a variety of important facts regarding patient population characteristics, disease epidemiology and treatment response for early breast cancer patients of the Asia-Pacific region receiving docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Docetaxel-based chemotherapy did not show any significant safety concerns for early breast cancer patients of the Asia-Pacific region, and thus may represent a safe adjuvant chemotherapy regimen for these patients.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Cholesterol ; Drug Therapy* ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Lipoproteins ; National Cancer Institute (U.S.) ; Neutropenia ; Population Characteristics ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Registries ; Stroke Volume ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND: Late-onset neutropenia (LON) following rituximab therapy has been reported in recent years. However, its incidence has not been reported in Korea. The aim of this study is to investigate the incidence of LON after rituximab therapy in Korean patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). METHODS: Ninety-eight cases of DLBCL treated with rituximab between 2004 and 2008 were evaluated. We identified LON as defined by the neutrophil count of <1.5x10(9)/L without apparent cause after the recovery of neutrophil count following rituximab therapy. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy specimens at the time of neutropenia were available for retrospective review in only 5 of the patients. RESULTS: LON was observed in 15 (15.3%) of the 98 patients. In the bone marrow specimens of the 5 patients, promyelocytes were relatively increased and the maturation index of the granulopoiesis was 2:1-3:1, which reflects maturation arrest. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of LON following rituximab therapy was 15.3% in Korean patients with DLBCL. Although there are several hypotheses about the causative mechanisms of LON, we suggest that maturation arrest at the promyelocyte stage of granulopoiesis may be one of the mechanisms involved in the development of LON.
Adult ; Aged ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects/*therapeutic use ; Bone Marrow Cells/pathology ; Cell Differentiation ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse/*drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia/diagnosis/*epidemiology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: The incidence of bacteremia caused by Gram-negative bacteria has increased recently in febrile neutropenic patients with the increase of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. This study aimed to identify the distribution of causative bacteria and the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in bacteremia diagnosed in febrile neutropenic children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of febrile neutropenic children diagnosed with bacteremia between 2010 and 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. The causative bacteria and proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria were investigated and compared yearly during the study period. The clinical impact of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections was also determined. RESULTS: A total of 336 bacteremia episodes were identified. During the entire study period, 181 (53.9%) and 155 (46.1%) episodes were caused by Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, respectively. Viridans streptococci (25.9%), Klebsiella spp. (16.7%), and Escherichia coli (16.4%) were the most frequent causative bacteria. The overall distribution of causative bacteria was not significantly different annually. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were identified in 85 (25.3%) episodes, and the proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was not significantly different annually. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli and Klebsiella spp. were most common among antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, and they accounted for 30.6% (n = 34) of the identified E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci were most common among antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive bacteria, and it accounted for 88.5% (n = 23) of the identified coagulase-negative staphylococci. Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, especially antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, caused significantly higher mortality due to bacteremia compared with non-antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Recently, Gram-negative bacteria caused more bacteremia cases than Gram-positive bacteria in febrile neutropenic children, and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections increased. Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections caused poorer prognosis compared with non-antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, and therefore, continuous surveillance for changing epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and their clinical impact is necessary.
Bacteremia ; Bacteria ; Bacterial Infections ; Child* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Epidemiology ; Escherichia coli ; Fever ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections* ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Klebsiella ; Medical Records ; Methicillin Resistance ; Mortality ; Neutropenia ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Viridans Streptococci

This study was performed to characterize respiratory viral infections in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Study samples included 402 respiratory specimens obtained from 358 clinical episodes that occurred in the 116 children of the 175 consecutive HSCT cohort at Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Korea from 2007 to 2010. Multiplex reverse-transcription polymerase chain reactions were performed for rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs), adenovirus, human coronavirus (hCoV), influenza viruses and human metapneumovirus. Viruses were identified in 89 clinical episodes that occurred in 58 patients. Among the 89 clinical episodes, frequently detected viruses were rhinovirus in 25 (28.1%), RSV in 23 (25.8%), PIV-3 in 16 (18.0%), adenovirus in 12 (13.5%), and hCoV in 10 (11.2%). Lower respiratory tract infections were diagnosed in 34 (38.2%). Neutropenia was present in 24 (27.0%) episodes and lymphopenia was in 31 (34.8%) episodes. Sixty-three percent of the clinical episodes were hospital-acquired. Three patients died of respiratory failure caused by respiratory viral infections. Respiratory viral infections in pediatric patients who have undergone HSCT are common and are frequently acquired during hospitalization. Continuous monitoring is required to determine the role of respiratory viruses in immunocompromised children and the importance of preventive strategies.
Adenoviridae/genetics/isolation & purification ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cohort Studies ; Coronavirus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Female ; *Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells/cytology ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphopenia/epidemiology ; Male ; Neutropenia/epidemiology ; Parainfluenza Virus 3, Human/genetics/isolation & purification ; Prevalence ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses/genetics/isolation & purification ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology/therapy/*virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinovirus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Seasons ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Infection is still a frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients receiving chemotherapy. Recently the main cause of infection has changed from gram-negative to gram-positive bacteria and the resistance to antibiotics has increased. This study aimed to access the effectiveness of antimicrobial prophylaxis (AP) with orally absorbable antibiotics. METHODS: Ninety-five AML patients receiving chemotherapy at Catholic Hemopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Center from March 1999 to July 1999 were randomly divided into the AP group (250 mg ciprofloxacin twice a day, 150 mg roxithromycin twice a day, 50 mg fluconazole once a day) and the control group for a prospective analysis. RESULTS: The incidence of fever was 82.6% in the AP group and 91.6% in the control group (p=0.15). Though classification and sites of infections showed no difference between the two groups, the catheter associated infection occurred more frequently in the AP group in significance. The time interval between initiation of chemotherapy and onset of fever, white blood cell (WBC) count at the onset of fever, duration of leukopenia (WBC < 1,000/mm ), duration of systemic antibiotic therapy, mortality due to infection and hospitalization period from the data starting chemotherapy showed no differences between the two groups. Infections due to gram negative bacteria decreased to 33.3% in the AP group (vs. 92% in the control group), but infections due to gram positive bacteria increased to 66.7% (vs. 8% in the control group). Gram negative bacteria showed 100% resistance to ciprofloxacin in the AP group and gram-positive bacteria showed 90-100% resistance to erythromycin, regardless of the presence of AP. CONCLUSION: The AP could not reduce the occurrence of infection or infection associated death in AML patients receiving chemotherapy. On considering increased gram-positive infection and resistance to fluoroquinolone and macrolide, routine prescription of AP should be reconsidered. Further studies that assess the effectiveness of AP in other malignancies, aplastic anemia and bone marrow transplantation are required.
Adult ; Anti-Infective Agents, Fluoroquinolone/*therapeutic use ; *Antibiotic Prophylaxis ; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/etiology/*prevention & control ; Ciprofloxacin/*therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Fever/epidemiology/etiology ; Fluconazole/therapeutic use ; Human ; Incidence ; Leukemia, Myelocytic, Acute/*complications/drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Age ; Neutropenia/chemically induced/*complications ; Prospective Studies ; Roxithromycin/therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome