Investigation of an outbreak of gram-negative bacteremia among hematology-oncology outpatients

Scott R. Penzak, Paul O. Gubbins, Shawna L. Stratton, Elias J. Anaissie

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

22 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors associated with an outbreak of gram-negative bacteremia (GNB). SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENTS: Hematology-oncology outpatients. DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study. RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients developed GNB; 13 patients experienced more than one episode, and eight blood cultures grew more than one gram-negative organism. The most frequently isolated organisms were Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Acinetobacter johnsonii. When the GNB patients (cases) were compared with randomly selected hematology-oncology patients (controls), central venous catheter (CVC) self-care (71% vs 39%; P=.02), and duration of recent hospital stay (median, 15 vs 4 days; P=.01) were identified as risk factors. In a logistic regression model, duration of recent hospital stay was the only risk factor significantly associated with GNB (odds ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-1.08; P<.02). CONCLUSIONS: Hematology-oncology patients providing their own CVC care who have recently been hospitalized for more than 2 weeks may be at increased risk of GNB. CVCs should be protected from possible environmental contamination in hematology-oncology patients. Patients providing their own CVC care should undergo continued rigorous education regarding proper CVC care.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)597-599
Number of pages3
JournalInfection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
Volume21
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2000

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