PREDISPOSING CONDITIONS AND PATHOGENS IN BACTEREMIA IN HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN

Between 1985 and 1995, 1037 bacteremic episodes were recorded in a ped iatric tertiary care center and analyzed retrospectively. Gram-positiv e bacteria accounted for 719 episodes (68%), gram-negative bacteria fo r 303 (29%), fungi for 16 (2%), and anaerobes for 12 (1%). In 526 (51% ) patients, primarily neonates and oncology patients, a predisposing c ondition was present. In 390 (38%) episodes a clinical source of infec tion was documented. Mortality was highest in Pseudomonas bacteremia ( 45%). Since the bacterial spectrum differed widely between patient gro ups, the choice of empirical antimicrobial therapy should be based on any underlying condition present in the patient and the clinical sourc e of infection. As anaerobes were rarely isolated, the routine use of anaerobic blood cultures in patients without predisposing conditions d oes not seem warranted.