In our clinic, between May 1988 and December 1994, 117 bone marrow tra
nsplants (78 allogenic BMT (alloBMT), 26 autologous BMT (autoBMT), 13
autologous peripheral stem cell transplant (autoPSCT)). Eighty-six (73
.5%) febrile neutropenic episodes (FNEs) were encountered (64 alloBMTs
, 15 autoBMTs, 7 autoPSCTs). There were 28 (32.5%) microbiologically d
ocumented infections, 18 (20.9%) clinically documented infections and
40 (46.5%) FUO. Gram-positive microorganisms were the most frequently
isolated agents (57.1%) and Staphylococcus spp. were the main pathogen
s to cause bacteremia (%54.1). Enterobacter spp. were the most common
(75%) in urinary tract infections, FNEs were most frequently (82%, 64/
78) encountered in AlloBMT patients. No significant difference in the
number of FNEs was found between autoBMT and autoPSCT groups (P < 0.05
). Overall response rate to empirical antibiotherapy was 87.2% (75/86)
and the success of treatment disclosed no difference in relation to t
ransplant type and definition of infection (P > 0.05). Seven (6%) pati
ents suffered from catheter infections and eight (7%) from Candida eso
phagitis. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.