Sepsis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Sepsis, including details on septicemia, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment.

Mixed bacterial-viral infections in septic children with leukemia.

Koskenvuo M, Möttönen M, Rahiala J, Saarinen-Pihkala UM, Riikonen P, Waris M, Ziegler T, Uhari M, Ruuskanen O, Salmi TT

Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. minna.koskenvuo@utu.fi

BACKGROUND: Febrile infections in children with leukemia are common. The occurrence of possible mixed bacterial-viral infections is unknown. METHODS: We searched for viruses in leukemic children with blood culture-positive bacterial infections. The prospective multicenter survey included 156 febrile episodes in 51 children with acute leukemia. The mean follow-up time was 1.5 years per patient (27,743 patient-days at risk). Sixteen viruses were searched for from nasal swab and stool samples using virus culture, virus antigen detection, and polymerase chain reaction tests. RESULTS: Bacterial blood cultures were positive in 19 (11%) febrile episodes among 17 children. In half of the septic episodes (11 of 19), a virus was also found. Rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus were the most common viruses detected. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that invasive bacterial infections are commonly associated with viral infections in children with leukemia.

Published 28 November 2007 in Pediatr Infect Dis J, 26(12): 1133-6.
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