Development and validation of a clinical model to predict the presence of β-lactam resistance in viridans group streptococci causing bacteremia in neutropenic cancer patients.

Viridans group streptococci in febrile neutropenic cancer patients: what should we fear?

In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Shelburne et al report their development and validation of a clinical prediction model for β-lactam resistance in viridans group streptococci (VGS) causing bloodstream infection (BSI) and offer guidance for the use of vancomycin (or gram-positive spectrum antibiotics) for empiric therapy of febrile neutropenia (FN) [1]. Although VGS cause a signifi...

In vitro activities of the new ketolide HMR 3647 (telithromycin) in comparison with those of eight other antibiotics against viridans group Streptococci isolated from blood of neutropenic patients with cancer.

The in vitro activities of the ketolide telithromycin and eight other antibiotics were tested against 77 strains of viridans group streptococci isolated from blood samples of neutropenic patients. Thirty-one (40.3%) of the strains were resistant to penicillin G, and 27 (35.1%) were resistant to erythromycin A. Telithromycin (MIC range of < or =0.03 to 1 microg/ml) was the most active antimicrob...

The Role of Corticosteroids in Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome caused by Viridans Group Streptococci Bacteremia in Neutropenic Patients

In the past decades, viridans group Streptococci (VGS) have emerged as an important cause of bacteremia in neutropenic patients with cancer. The clinical course of VGS bacteremia can be devastating including septic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). It has been suggested that septicemia with VGS triggers the development of noncardiogenic pulmonary edema in patients with pre-e...

Molecular relationships and antimicrobial susceptibilities of viridans group streptococci isolated from blood of neutropenic cancer patients.

From January 1995 to May 1998, 57 episodes of bacteremia due to viridans group streptococci were identified in 50 febrile neutropenic patients with hematologic malignancies. Four patients experienced two separate episodes of streptococcal bacteremia, and one patient had four separate episodes of streptococcal bacteremia. Strains were identified to species level as Streptococcus mitis (n = 37), ...

Bacteremia due to oral viridans streptococci in neutropenic patients with cancer: cytostatics are a more important risk factor than antibacterial prophylaxis.