Analysis of etiology of septicemia in leukemia patients

[Objective] To explore the drug sensitivity, characteristics and bacterium species distribution of blood cultures from leukemia patients with infectious septicemia. [Methods] The strains of pathogens, which were separated from blood samples in Jan. 2004, to Dec. 2008 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, were retrospectively analyzed. [Results] G- bacteria were the most common causes of infections; E.coli, Klebsiella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa accounted for the most of G- bacterial infections, followed by G+ coccus infections in which Staphylococci were the most common cause. G- bacteria were sensitive to Meropenem, Cefepime, Piperacillin/Tazobactam and Amikacin, resistant to Penicillin, Monobactams and Cefetaxime; G+ Cocci were sensitive to Vancomycin, while resistant to most of other antibiotics. [Conclusion] Increased extended-spectrum β-lactamase and Methecillin-resistant Staphylococci are the major risks of drug resistance in leukemia patients with septicemia. Analysis on species distribution in blood cultures or the drug sensitivity may instruct the reasonable use of clinical antibiotics.