PROPHYLAXIS OF STREPTOCOCCAL BACTEREMIA WITH ORAL PENICILLIN-V IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

The work described aimed to evaluate the incidence of streptococcal ba cteraemia in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation and recei ving prophylaxis with penicillin V. From January 1991 to December 1993 oral penicillin V was administered as prophylaxis for streptococcal b acteraemia to patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation at G. Ga slini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy. The data were compared with t hose from a similar population receiving bone marrow transplantation f rom September 1984 to July 1990 and not receiving this kind of prophyl axis. Streptococcal bacteraemia was diagnosed in 7/17 (41%) episodes o f bacteraemia observed in the period January 1991 to December 1993, wh ile it accounted for 71% of all bacteraemias in the period from Septem ber 1984 to July 1990 and was especially frequent from January 1988 to July 1990, comprising 13/15 (87%) of observed bacteremias. The decrea se of this complication observed after the beginning of the prophylaxi s programme was statistically significant. Oral penicillin V is effect ive as prophylaxis of streptococcal bacteraemias in children receiving bone marrow transplantation in a centre with a high incidence of this complication.