Bacteriemia in cancer patients at the SOLCA Cancer Institute. Cuenca, 2011-2016

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: To characterize the episodes of bacteremia, the causative microorganisms and their patterns of sensitivity in patients treated at the Cancer Institute SOLCA - Cuenca, Ecuador.

Methodology: A descriptive design was applied. The study focused on all episodes of bacteremia occurred in the period 2011-2016, they were verified by blood cultures. The variables studied were age and sex of the patients in whom the bacteremia occurred; type of tumor, microorganism, time of positivization and resistance profile.

Results: A total of 318 episodes were identified. The 66.8% of the isolated microorganisms were gram-negative bacteria and 33.2% gram-positive; the most prevalent were Escherichia coli 37.3%, Staphylococcus aureus 17.9%, Klebsiella.spp 9.3%, Staphylococcus coagulase negative 7.2% and Pseudomonasaeruginosa 5.1%. In gram-positive cocci, methicillin resistance was 40% in Staphylococcus.aureus and 67% in coagulase-negative Staphylococcus; Escherichia.coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins by 29% and 47% respectively, compatible with the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase phenotype; the resistance to quinolones was 35% and 50% respectively.

Conclusions:  the gram-negative bacteria were the most prevalent microorganisms in this study, mainly the enterobacteria, with an important resistance to the antibiotics tested.

Key words: bacteremia, cancer care facilities, inpatients, blood culture, neoplasms, drug resistance, microbial.