The Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections in a German Pediatric Cancer Unit During a 5-Year Period: Microbial Spectrum, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Effectiveness of Preventive Taurolidine Lock

Valenza G, Chada M, Voigtländer S, Esse J, Held J, Bogdan C, Metzler M (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins

DOI: 10.1097/INF.0000000000005342

Abstract

Background: – The aim of the study was to evaluate the spectrum and the antimicrobial susceptibility of microorganisms causing bloodstream infections (BSIs) in a cohort of patients of a pediatric cancer unit. In addition, we evaluated the effectiveness of preventive antimicrobial lock therapy with taurolidine-citrate solution in reducing BSI rates. Methods: – We prospectively assessed demographic, clinical and microbiological data of BSIs during a 5-year period from January 2019 to December 2023. Preventive lock treatment with instillation of taurolidine-citrate solution into the central venous catheter (CVC) was performed from January 2019 to April 2022, interrupted from May to December 2022 and, after a suspected increase in BSI episodes, reintroduced from January 2023. Results: – In 45 patients, a total of 57 BSI episodes were recorded and 60 microorganisms were cultured. The most frequently isolated bacteria belonged to Staphylococcus spp. (n = 20, 33.3%) and Enterobacterales (n = 17, 28.3%). Regarding the antimicrobial susceptibility, all Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to vancomycin. Among the Gram-negative bacteria, only 4 isolates (17.4%) showed a resistance against piperacillin/tazobactam and only 1 isolate a resistance against meropenem (4.3%). Incidence of BSIs was highest from May to December 2022 (19.6 per 100 patient months; 95% confidence intervals: 11.0–32.4 per 100 patient months) when CVCs were locked with saline instead of taurolidine-citrate solution. Conclusions: – In this study, Staphylococcus spp. and Enterobacterales were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. The lock of CVCs with taurolidine apparently contributed to the prevention of BSIs in the above-mentioned patients.

Authors with CRIS profile

Giuseppe Valenza Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Jan Esse Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Jürgen Held Institute of Microbiology – Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene Christian Bogdan Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie und Infektionsimmunologie Markus Metzler Professur für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin mit dem Schwerpunkt Pädiatrische Onkologie und Hämatologie

Involved external institutions

Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (LGL) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Valenza, G., Chada, M., Voigtländer, S., Esse, J., Held, J., Bogdan, C., & Metzler, M. (2026). The Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections in a German Pediatric Cancer Unit During a 5-Year Period: Microbial Spectrum, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Effectiveness of Preventive Taurolidine Lock. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000005342

MLA:

Valenza, Giuseppe, et al. "The Surveillance of Bloodstream Infections in a German Pediatric Cancer Unit During a 5-Year Period: Microbial Spectrum, Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Effectiveness of Preventive Taurolidine Lock." Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal (2026).

BibTeX: Download