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Healthcare‐associated blood stream infections in hematological patients in Finland during the years 2006‐2016
Author(s) -
Åttman Emilia,
Syrjänen Jaana,
Lyytikäinen Outi,
Ollgren Jukka,
Sinisalo Marjatta,
Vuento Risto,
Mattila Erja,
Huttunen Reetta
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
european journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0902-4441
DOI - 10.1111/ejh.13663
Subject(s) - medicine , case fatality rate , pseudomonas aeruginosa , epidemiology , biology , bacteria , genetics
Objectives The aim was to identify the clinical characteristics, outcome, and antimicrobial susceptibility of healthcare‐associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) in hematological patients. Methods This retrospectively collected laboratory‐based surveillance data include 3404 healthcare‐associated BSIs in 2296 patients with a hematological malignancy in hospitals participating in the Finnish Hospital Infection Program from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2016. Results The most common underlying diseases were acute myelogenous leukemia (35%) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (22%). Gram‐positive organisms accounted for 60%‐46% and gram‐negative organisms for 24%‐36% of BSIs in 2006‐2016. The most common causative organism was coagulase‐negative staphylococci (CoNS) (n = 731). The 7‐ and 28‐day case fatality rates were 5.2% and 11.4%, respectively, and was highest in BSIs caused by Candida species (10.8% and 30.8%). The median age of patients increased from 59 years in 2006‐2008 to 62 years in 2015‐2016 ( P < .01). Five percent of S aureus isolates were resistant to methicillin and five percent of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were multidrug‐resistant. Four percent of Klebsiella and seven percent of E coli isolates were resistant to ceftazidime. Conclusions The proportion of gram‐positive bacteria decreased and gram‐negative bacteria increased over time. The case fatality rate was low and the median age of patients increased during the study.