XANTHOMONAS-MALTOPHILIA BACTEREMIA IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HEMATOLOGICALPATIENTS

Epidemiological, microbiological and clinical characteristics of 14 ep isodes of Xanthomonas maltophilia bacteremia in 12 seriously immunocom promised hematological patients, admitted to Rigshospitalet in Copenha gen over the 3-year period 1989-91, were evaluated. The results were c ompared with a randomly selected control group of 25 patients with Esc herichia coli bacteremia. Hospital acquired bacteremia was more common among the patients with X. maltophilia bacteremia (p < 0.01). Treatme nt with broad-spectrum antibiotics before the bacteremic episode was m arkedly more common among the patients with X. maltophilia bacteremia (p < 0.001). The presence of a central venous catheter and previous tr eatment with corticosteroids were more frequent in patients with X. ma ltophilia bacteremia (p < 0.05). The X. maltophilia blood culture isol ates were generally resistant to aminoglycosides and most B-lactams. T he mortality rates related to bacteremia caused by X. maltophilia and E. coli were 14% and 20%, respectively.