Bloodstream Bacterial Infection in Neutropenic Acute Leukemia Patients ()
1. Introduction
Bloodstream infection (BSI) in neutropenic patients, is a severe complication and is associated with increased mortality. BSI is routinely diagnosed with blood culture, which detects only culturable pathogens [1]. BSI is treated with broad-spectrum of empirical antimicrobials, due to the lack of specificity or resistance mechanisms systemic infections. The antimicrobials are often not efficient against the invading microbes [2] [3] and [4], and its treatment might be inappropriate due to the lack of coverage of the underlying pathogen(s), or the causative pathogens antimicrobial resistance [5]. Although Blood culture only detects culturable pathogens and represents a narrow spectrum of the microbes present in a sample, it requires relatively large volumes of samples [6]. About 75% from febrile neutropenia, and 50% of blood cultures from septic shock are positive [1] [7] and [8]. In hemato-logical malignancies the most commonly detected pathogens are bacteria, also fungal and viral infections represent in major complications [1] [6] and [9].
In patients who have bloodstream infections, the viable microorganisms are present in blood [10]. In peripheral blood the density of microorganisms in adults may be as low as ten microorganisms per milliliter and about 100 microorganisms per milliliter in children [11]. In principle, the sensitivity of blood cultures is enough to detect these low amounts of microorganisms; however, the density varies during the course of disease, and therefore the blood culture diagnostics will not always yield positive results; therefore recommendation for culturing sufficient quantities of blood is in patients with suspected sepsis [12].
Blood cultures have several advantages. First, they have been in use for more than 100 years and are well integrated in the clinical workflow and clinical guidelines. Second, semi-automated culture systems have greatly simplified handling in the microbiological laboratory which results in a short hands-on time. Third, a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens can be isolated and identified [13]. Furthermore, isolation of the pathogen is a prerequisite to phenotypic susceptibility testing which enables clinicians to initiate targeted antimicrobial therapy. However, there are limitations in blood culture diagnostics: detection is limited to pathogens that have the ability to grow in blood cultures. Some microorganisms, such as Legionella spp., Bartonella spp., and Aspergillus spp., grow poorly in blood culture medium. Furthermore, antimicrobials may cause growth inhibition and relevant pathogens may thus go undetected, after the initiation of antimicrobial therapy [14] [15]. Most importantly, many clinicians feel that results are available too late to guide therapy because of blood culture diagnostics requires some time until results are available [16].
Biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein or procalcitonin, aid in the diagnosis of sepsis and they are usually available before microbiological test results. Unfortunately, currently available biomarkers have a low sensitivity and specificity [17] [18] and [19].
Molecular techniques have been developed with the aim to carryout sensitivity progression and to detect bloodstream infection earlier [20] [21].
In pneumococcal pneumonia, blood cultures often remain negative and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae in patients with a clinical suspicion for pneumonia has been shown to be more sensitive than blood cultures in clinical studies [22] [23].
2. Patients and Methods
Fifty new cases of Acute Leukemia Patients with Febrile Neutropenia and twenty patients with acute leukemia without neutropenia of the age, sex and diagnosis (as control), who were admitted to Medical Oncology and pediatric Departments at South Egypt Cancer Institute (SECI) Assiut University (from May 2017 to May 2019).
2.1. The Clinical Data at Presentation
Clinical data including age, sex, and presenting clinical features (lymph node enlargement, Splenomegaly, fever and infection, renal problems, liver problems, and Anemia).
2.2. Material and Methods
Blood of (10 - 15) ml was collected by either a venous or arterial draw at the same time as the routine clinical blood samples using the same needle stick.
2.2.1. Complete Blood Count
Small aliquots 2ml blood was inoculated to K-EDTA, and performed by using CELL-DYN® CD-3500 CS. ABBOTT DIAGNOSTICS. USA, PENTRA DF NEXUS. SN (60SPN0694) HORIBA & manual differential count.
2.2.2. Culture Growth and Sensitivity
Blood of 3 - 5 ml inoculated in to blood culture media, Small aliquots was taken for culturing on solid media and for gram stain, identification and determination of sensitivity to antibiotic were performed by using VITEK® 2 System (BIOMERIEUX) SN (510774-3EN1) USA.
2.2.3. Creactive Protein (CRP)
Serum samples were taken and performed by bioscien CRP latex kit Qualitative and Semi-Qualitative test.
2.2.4. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)
Blood of 1.6 ml was inoculated in Tube containing 0.4 ml of sodium citrate solution. ESR is carried out by using LENA S.N (002164) Barcelona Spain.
2.2.5. Identification of Bacteria Up to Species Level Using 16 S rRNA Analysis
Molecular techniques including DNA extraction PCR mediated amplification of 16 S ribosomal DNA, purification of PCR products and sequencing of the PCR products for the isolated Bactria under study were performed.
DNA extraction was performed using Gene Jet genomic DNA purification Kit (Thermo K27300). The 16S rRNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using eubacterial universal primers F: 5’-GGT TAC CTT GTT ACG ACT 3’.
Then PCR was performed using MyTaq PCR Red Mix (thermo K27300), Purification of PCR product using Gene JET™ PCR Purification Kit (Thermo K0701) and The sequencing of the PCR product was mad in GATC German Company using ABI 3730 xl DNA sequencer by forward and reverse primers, F: 5’-AGA GTT TGA TCC TGG CTC AG-3’ and R: 5’-GGT TAC CTT GTT ACG ACTT 3’.
3. Results and Discussion
Seventy new cases of leukemia patients (AL) haven’t received (chemo or radio) therapy presented by fever and infection, 50 cases of neutropenic acute leukemia patients with the mean age (13.26 ± 11.67) years and age range from 1 to 46 years old, 37 (74%) patients were younger than 18 years old, are compared to 20 cases of non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with mean age (20.55 ± 19.061) years and age range from 3 to 64 years old, 13 (65%) patients were younger than 18 years old.
Among neutropenic acute leukemia patients, 29 patients (58%) were males and 21 patients (42%) were females, 33 (66%) patients were diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 17 (34%) were diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 47patients (94%) positive for CRP test, 43 patients (86%) and 47 patients (94%) presented by elevation in ESR rate for first and second hour respectively.
Among non neutropenic acute leukemia patients,12 patients (60%) were males and 8 patients (40%) were females, 9 (45%) patients were diagnosed as (ALL) and 11 (55%) were diagnosed as (AML), 17 patients (85%) positive for CRP test, 15 patients (75%) and 16 patients (80%) presented by elevation in ESR rate for first and second hour respectively (Table 1 & Table 2).
The overall proportion of infected cases positive by blood culture was found
![]()
Table 1. The distribution of demographic data of acute leukemia patients.
Abbreviations: (ALFNP) acute leukemia patients with febrile neutropenia & (ALNNP) acute leukemia patients without neutropenia.
to be (22%) for neutropenic acute leukemia patients, and (15%) for non neutropenic acute leukemia patients. Among gram positive bacteria (GPB) are, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus lentus, Staphylococcus lugdunensis, Staphylococcus xylosus, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus homini & Lactococcus garvieae. Among gram negative bacteria (GNB) are, non-fermenting gram-negative Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Enterobacter aerogenes & Escherichia coli (Table 3 & Table 4).
The overall proportion of patients after treatment: for neutropenic acute leukemia patients, 27 patients (54%) were in remission while 23 patients (46%) were not. For non neutropenic acute leukemia patients, 11 patients (55%) were in remission while 9 patients (45%) were not.
Concerning to age, there is no significant correlation between neutropenic
![]()
Table 2. The distribution of acute leukemia patients concerning to laboratory investigation.
![]()
Table 3. The distribution of isolated bacteria in acute leukemia febrile neutropenia cases, according to culture growth.
![]()
Table 4. The distribution of isolated bacteria in acute leukemia without neutropenia (ALNNP) cases, according to culture growth.
acute leukemia patients and non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value of 0.303 & 0.211 respectively.
Concerning to sex, there are statistically significance in neutropenic acute leukemia patients and no significant correlation in non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value 0.003 & 0.565 respectively.
According to type of AL, was found to be 4 patients (33.3) ALL & 8 patients (66.7) AML for patients group, and 0 patients (0) ALL & 3 patients (100) AML for non neutropenic acute leukemia patients. i.e. percentage of ALL:AML (1:2) for neutropenic acute leukemia patients & (0:1) AML for non neutropenic acute leukemia patients.
Concerning to type of AL there are statistically significant in the two groups with a P value 0.004 & 0.03 respectively.
Concerning to the type of isolated bacteria in neutropenic acute leukemia patients, we found that Gram-positive bacteria (GPB) was the most abundant microorganisms than gram negative bacteria (GNB); it represents about 2:1 while in non neutropenic acute leukemia patients growth only GPB were present (Figure 1 & Figure 2).
Concerning to the inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP, there is no significant correlation between neutropenic acute leukemia patients and non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value of 0.480 & 0.222 respectively.
Concerning to the ESR (1st & 2nd hour), there is no significant correlation in neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value of 0.071 & 0.084 respectively but there is statistically significant correlation in the non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value of 0.018 & 0.034 respectively.
Concerning to treatment response of the cases shown positive by blood culture, only (27.3%) are found to be in remission and (72.7%) are not in remission, while all patients (100%) for non neutropenic acute leukemia patients are not in remission (Figure 3 & Figure 4).
There is no significant correlation in neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value of 0.330, but there are statistically significant in the non neutropenic acute leukemia patients with a P value of 0.039.
![]()
Figure 1. The distribution of isolated bacteria in acute leukemia febrile neutropenia cases, according culture growth.
![]()
Figure 2. The Distribution of isolated bacteria in acute leukemia non neutropenic cases, according culture growth.
![]()
Figure 3. Correlation between culture growth sensitivity and treatment response in acute leukemia febrile neutropenia patients.
![]()
Figure 4. Correlation between culture growth sensitivity and neutrophils in acute leukemia febrile neutropenia patients.
Molecular technique
Correlation between culture growth sensitivity and Molecular techniques
Concerning to identification of blood stream bacterial species using PCR technique, we found that there is statistically significant correlation between culture growth sensitivity and PCR with P value < 0.005, this is mainly due to about (96%) opositive samples by blood culture were also positive by PCR, indeed 2 cases out of 50 were positive by PCR but negative by blood culture.
The overall of isolated bacteria from neutropenic acute leukemia patients according to PCR test were staphylococcus aureus, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Escherichia coli and klebsiella pneumonia.
The infection in neutropenic acute leukemia patients is more incident and associated with more virulence and resistance bacteria than non neutropenic acute leukemia patients.
Not surprisingly, this fundamental principle was associated with high mortality rate among all patients, because that administration of inadequate or inappropriate antimicrobial treatment was also associated with increased hospital mortality.
In the agreement of our study [24] reported that resistance to common antimicrobial agents is being encountered increasingly at most hospitals, in part because of heavy use of antibiotics.
Similarly [25] reported that prophylactic antibiotics have demonstrated some efficacy in reducing the risk of febrile episodes in neutropenic patients with cancer; however, these agents have been associated with additional toxicity and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
4. Conclusions
The infection in neutropenic acute leukemia patients is more prevalent and associated with more virulence and resistance of gram positive bacteria than non neutropenic acute leukemia patients. The bacterial species associated with neutropenic acute leukemia patients are more resistant to antibiotic than those associated with non neutropenic acute leukemia patients.
Concerning treatment response of the cases positive for bacterial growth, the remission rate was less in neutropenic acute leukemia than non neutropenic acute leukemia patients. So the earlier detection of the infection the faster prognosis of the disease.