POLYMICROBIAL BACTEREMIA IN CANCER-PATIENTS - ANALYSIS OF RISK-FACTORS, ETIOLOGY AND OUTCOME IN 214 EPISODES

Two hundred and fourteen episodes of polymicrobial bacteremia in 182 c ancer patients in a period of 6 years in a 360-bed National Cancer Ins titute were analyzed for etiology, risk factors and outcome. Variables were compared with 187 episodes of monomicrobial bacteremias in 147 c ancer patients to find statistical significance among risk factors, et iology and outcome. Urinary catheters and breakthrough bacteremia were the only risk factors associated with polymicrobial in comparison to monomicrobial bacteremia (P < 0.05). Concerning etiology, Enterococcus faecalis, Candida spp., Acinetobacter calcoaceticus and Stenotrophomo nas maltophilia were more commonly isolated in polymicrobial than in m onomicrobial bacteremic episodes. Polymicrobial bacteremia presented m ore frequently with septic shock (22.9% vs. 9.0%, P < 0.05) and/or org an complications (25.2% vs. 11.8%, P < 0.05). However, mortality due t o bacteremia did not significantly differ between polymicrobial and mo nomicrobial, but when polymicrobial bacteremia with and without coagul ase negative staphylococci were compared, mortality in polymicrobial b acteremia without staphylococci was higher (10% vs. 4.7%, P < 0.04).