Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a single‐center experience

To examine risk factors for S tenotrophomonas maltophilia ( S . maltophilia ) infection during allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐ HSCT ), we retrospectively analyzed 259 patients who underwent allo‐ HSCT . Not only S . maltophilia infection but also S . maltophilia colonization was associated with mortality during allo‐ HSCT . Among 52 episodes in 39 patients in whom S . maltophilia was detected, documented infection developed in 33 episodes (25 patients). The onset of S . maltophilia infection in the period from the conditioning regimen to engraftment was associated with a high mortality rate. Breakthrough S . maltophilia infection developed in 24% of the patients during prophylactic administration of fluoroquinolones, to which S . maltophilia is sensitive. Reinsertion of a central venous catheter ( CVC ) immediately after removal was suggested to be a risk for persistent S . maltophilia infection in the period of neutropenia. Our results indicated that (i) onset of S . maltophilia infection in the period from the conditioning therapy to engraftment and (ii) removal and immediate reinsertion of a CVC as treatment after the onset of S . maltophilia infection are possible risk factors for S . maltophilia ‐related mortality during allo‐ HSCT .