Abstract
Introduction: The treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) consists of induction therapy with
anthracyclines and cytarabine followed by two to four cycles of consolidation therapy
with high-dose cytarabine after achieving remission. There have been very few studies
comparing infections during induction and consolidation. We have analyzed blood cultures
of patients with AML during episodes of fever occurring during induction and consolidation,
for comparing the bloodstream infections in both the phases. Materials and Methods: Blood cultures of patients during febrile episodes were collected from central venous
catheters and peripheral blood, both during induction and consolidation therapy of
AML. Results: The study population included 52 AML patients. During induction, there were 52 episodes
of fever and 25 (48%) blood cultures were positive, 15 of these blood cultures reported
Gram-negative organisms, 9 reported Gram-positive organisms and 1 as yeast. During
consolidation, 47 episodes of fever were recorded and blood cultures were positive
in 12, of which 7 were Gram-negative, 5 were Gram-positive. Conclusion: The incidence of blood culture positive infections during therapy of AML at our center
was higher. The predominant organism isolated was Gram-negative both during induction
and consolidation. The incidence of blood culture positive infections had decreased
by 50% during consolidation.
Key words
Acute myeloid leukemia - consolidation - induction
