The bacterial infections remain one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among bone marrow transplantation patients. During the neutropenic period these patients are more susceptible to acquire these agents. The improvement on antibiotic prophylaxis has changed the bacterial spectrum on the last decade. Surveillance cultures have been strategically used as a method to foresee an agent that potentially increases morbidity at this time of treatment. However it is also criticized due to its low sensitivity and specificity. The authors retrospectively reviewed the surveillance cultures on the first thirty days of 50 patients who underwent bone marrow transplantation at Santa Casa de São Paulo BMT unit. The male patients were 62% and the prevalent age ranging 21 to 40 years. The allogeneic transplant and peripheral blood stem cell infusion were 68% and 72% respectively. Chronic myelogenous leukemia was the most transplanted disease. Gram-positive isolates were found on 64% of all cultures. The Gram-positive agents were prevalent on skin, nostril swabs and also on catheter exit sites, while gram negative agents were isolated on oropharynx and anal swabs. There was no relation either on a positive blood culture test or a antibiotic prophylaxis regarding the surveillance cultures when retrospectively reviewed during these first days of treatment.
Bone marrow transplantation; surveillance cultures; infection
