Prospective analysis of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in nonneutropenicadults with malignancy

Purpose: To determine the primary sources and secondary complications of St aphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in cancer patients, as well as predict ors of outcome in cancer patients with SAB. Patients and Methods: Fifty-two patients at Duke University Medical Center met entry criteria between September 1994 and December 1996 for this prospe ctive cohort study involving hospitalized nonneutropenic adult cancer patie nts with SAB. All subjects were observed throughout initial hospitalization and were evaluated again at 6 and 12 weeks or until death. Results: SAB was intravascular device-related in 42%, tissue infection-rela ted (TIR) in 44%, and unidentifiable focus-related (UFR) in 13%. Seventeen patients (33%) were found to have metastatic infections or conditions, with eight (15%) developing infectious endocarditis (IE). Patients with TIR bac teremia were less likely than other patients to develop IE (4% v 24%, P = . 06), The overall mortality rate was 38%, the SAB-related mortality rate was 15%, and the rate of SAB relapse was 12%. Methicillin resistance was not a ssociated with adverse outcome. inability to identify a point of entry (UFR bacteremia), however, was associated with a higher overall mortality rate (100% v 24%, P = .0006). Furthermore, a 72-hour surveillance blood culture positive for organisms was associated with an increased incidence of IE (P = .0006), metastatic infections or conditions (P = .0002), SAB relapse (P = .038), and SAB-related death (P = .038). Conclusion: SAB in cancer patients is associated with significant morbidity from frequent metastatic infections or conditions including IE, as well as considerable mortality. Unknown initial infection site and 72-hour surveil lance cultures positive for organisms were predictive of a complicated cour se and poor final outcome. J Clin Oncol 18:1110-1115. (C) 2000 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.