National study reveals gram negative bacteremia on contemporary pediatric AML protocol

Since bacteremia complicates childhood Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients, we assessed bacteremia rates in Israeli children with de-novo AML. All chemotherapy courses of patients enrolled in NOPHO-DBH-2012 AML protocol were included. Down syndrome, acute promyelocytic leukemia were excluded. Among 69 patients, seven had focal bacterial infections. Of the remaining 62, 77.4% had 1–8 bacteremias. Of 238 chemotherapy courses, 98 (41.2%) had bacteremia: 66 (67.3%) predominantly Gram-negative rods (GNR); 28 (28.6%) Gram-positive cocci. Escherichia coli; followed by Klebsiella were most common. Older age, Arab ethnicity, and presenting white blood cell count were associated with an increased risk of bacteremia in the univariable analysis, but these associations were not confirmed in the multivariable analysis. Mortality was high (9.7%), and bacteremia increased PICU utilization 7-fold half from GNR. Most isolates were sensitive to vancomycin/meropenem (94.7%), but GNR had low sensitivity to quinolones (61.8%). High mortality and morbidity of de-novo AML patients from predominantly GNR bacteremia require specific interventions but limited susceptibility to quinolones hampers prophylaxis.