Search

Backgound Nutritionally variant Streptococci (NVS), Abiotrophia and Granulicatella are implicated in causing endocarditis and blood stream infections more frequently than other sites of infection. Neutropenia and mucositis are the most common predisposing factors for infection with other pathogens in cancer patients. In this study we investigated the clinical characteristics of NVS bacteremia in cancer patients and identified risk factors and outcomes associated with these infections. Materials and Methods We retrospectively reviewed all cases of NVS bacteremia occurring from June 1999 to April 2014 at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. The computerized epidemiology report provided by the microbiology laboratory identified thirteen cancer patients with NVS bacteremia. We collected data regarding baseline demographics and clinical characteristics such as age, sex, underlying malignancy, neutropenic status, duration of neutropenia, treatment, and outcome. Results Thirteen patients were identified with positive NVS blood stream infection. Ten patients (77%) had hematologic malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (1), multiple myeloma (MM) (1), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) (4), and non Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) (4). The non-hematologic malignancies included esophageal cancer (2) and bladder cancer (1). Conclusion NVS should be considered as a possible agent of bacteremia in cancer patients with neutropenia and a breach in oral, gastrointestinal and genitourinary mucosa (gingivitis/mucositis).

species. BMC Infect Dis, 2006. 6:9 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2334/6/9. 2. Ruoff, K.L.; Nutritionally Variant Streptococci. Clinical Microbiol Reviews, 1991. 4(2): p. 184-190. 3. Cargill, J.S., et al; Granulicatella infection: diagnosis and management. J Med Microbiol, 2012. 61: p. 755-761. 4. Liao, C.H., et al; Nutritionally Variant Streptococcal Infections at a University Hospital in Taiwan: Disease Emergence and High Prevalence of β-Lactam and Macrolide Resistance. Clinical Infect Dis, 2004. 38: p. 452-455. 5. Murray, C.K., et al; Abiotrophia Bacteremia in a Patient with Neutropenic Fever and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Abiotrophia Isolates. Clinical Infect Dis, 2001. 32: p. 140-142. Nutritionally Variant Streptococci Bacteremia in Cancer Patients: A Relatively Benign Occurrence