Clinical outcomes and multidrug resistance patterns of rare Gram-negative bloodstream infections: An 8-year analysis from a tertiary pediatric hospital
Kılınç Fatma, Çay Ümmühan, Alabaz Derya, Gündeşlioğlu Özlem Özgür, Tapaç Nisa Nur, Çetin Fatma Tuğba, Tolunay Asena Ünal, Kibar FilizObjective:
To evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles, and outcomes of bloodstream infections caused by rare Gram-negative bacteria in a tertiary pediatric center.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on pediatric patients (0-18 years) with rare Gram-negative bloodstream infections growth in blood cultures between 2016 and 2023. Common pathogens
Results:
A total of 394 patients were included in the study. Their median age was 21.5 months and 237 (60.2%) were male. The cohort had a high prevalence of chronic underlying diseases (94.0%) and a median hospital stay of 27 (16, 49) days. Central venous catheters (35.8%) and recent blood product transfusions (35.8%) were the most frequent predisposing factors. The most prevalent isolates were
Conclusions:
Rare Gram-negative bacteria bloodstream infections in children represent a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge due to unpredictable resistance patterns. Our data suggest that empirical therapy for high-risk pediatric patients should be periodically reviewed to include coverage for these emerging pathogens, especially in those with indwelling devices and chronic comorbidities.