Monocenter study on epidemiology, outcomes and risk factors of infections in recipients of 166 allogeneic stem cell transplantations during one year.

Samek, Markus; Iversen, Katharina; Belmar-Campos, Cristina; Berneking, Laura; Langebrake, Claudia; Wolschke, Christine; Ayuk, Francis; Kröger, Nicolaus; Christopeit, Maximilian

OBJECTIVES During allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), infections significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality. A monocentric prospective analysis was performed to assess epidemiology, risk factors, and outcomes of infections during the peri-transplant period. METHODS Data were recorded prospectively using a predefined questionnaire. RESULTS In 2015, 163 consecutive patients, 37.4% female, median age 59 (range 18-79) years received 166 allo-SCT. Median duration of leukopenia <109 /L was 14.5 days (range 4-43 days). Fever of unknown origin (FUO) occurred in 118/166 patients (71.1%). Severe sepsis developed in 95, septic shock in 26 patients. Intensive diagnostic workup helped to identify causative microorganisms only in a small number of infectious courses. All but 13 patients needed antibiotic therapy, each according to the standard operating procedures of the department. Cumulative incidence of death by infection after one year was 16.6% (95%CI 11.3-22.7%). The only risk factor for FUO in neutropenia was duration of neutropenia