Infections in patients with neutropenia
M. W. Howard, R. G. Strauss and R. B. Johnston Jr
We review published reports and our experience in regard to the causative
organisms of infections in patients with neutropenia. The organisms
isolated from infected patients were almost exclusively pyogenic and
enteric bacteria, and our patients had no history of serious viral or
fungal infections, documenting the importance of the neutrophil in normal
host defense against extracellular but not intracellular pathogens.
Staphylococcus aureus was the single most commonly cultured organism;
however, Pseudomonas and Escherichia coli were almost as commonly isolated.
Positive cultures were obtained primarily from the blood or cutaneous,
subcutaneous, or deep tissue abscesses. In patients with congenital
neutropenia, pneumonia, otitis media, and abscesses were the most frequent
infections diagnosed clinically. There is a suggestion that recent
antibiotic therapy shifted the spectrum of infecting organisms toward
enteric bacteria.
