| Title | Mixed bacterial-viral infections in septic children with leukemia. | ||
| Author | Koskenvuo, Minna; Mottonen, Merja; Rahiala, Jaana; Saarinen-Pihkala, Ulla M; Riikonen, Pekka; Waris, Matti; Ziegler, Thedi; Uhari, Matti; Ruuskanen, Olli; Salmi, Toivo T | ||
| Journal | Pediatr Infect Dis J | Publication Year/Month | 2007-Dec |
| PMID | 18043451 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.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.