Purpose: To explore the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of bloodstream infections (BSI) in patients who develop agranulocytosis fever after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). This study also provides a basis for the clinical treatment of BSI.
Methods: A retrospective analysis of 397 allo-HSCT patients in the Department of Hematology of our hospital was conducted from January 2013 to December 2017 to analyze the incidence of BSI, the distribution and types of pathogenic bacteria, and drug resistance rates. We also determined whether various parameters are risk factors to BSI, including the patient age, gender, disease type, transplantation method, stem cell source, pre-treatment with anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), and agranulocytosis time.
Results: Among the 397 allo-HSCT patients, 294 had a fever during the period of agranulocytosis, and 52 cases were found to have BSI. The incidence of BSI in patients with agranulocytosis fever was 17.7% (52/294). Among the 60 pathogens detected, 43 (71.67%), 10 (16.67%), and 7 (11.67%) were Gram negative strains, Gram positive strains, and fungi, respectively. The most common bacteria were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae , and Pseudomonas aeruginosa . The detection rate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) was 40.0%, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae  (CRE) accounted for 17.9%. Single-factor and multi-factor analyses showed that pre-treatment with ATG, agranulocytosis time (≥ 21 days), and stem cell source were risk factors for BSI.
Conclusion: We found that in our hospital, BSIs in allo-HSCT patients are mainly caused by Gram-negative bacteria, and the resistance rate to carbapenem drugs is high. Pre-treatment with ATG, agranulocytosis time (≥ 21 days), and stem cell source are risk factors for BSI.
Keywords: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, agranulocytosis, BSI, pathogenic bacteria, risk factors