Introduction
Over the past decade, as demonstrated in previous studies conducted under the HeMABIS register, there has been a marked increase in severe infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) with multi- / pan-antibiotic resistance patterns (MDR / PDR).
The optimal therapeutic approach (empirical but also etiologic) is still to be defined, in particular for infections caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria.
The aim of the HeMABIS 2016-2018 study is to collect and analyze prospectively all cases of bacteremia caused by GNB in order to continuously monitor the epidemiology of resistance to major antibiotics and identify clinical features, risk factors associated with the onset of bacteremia by MDR GNB, prognostic factors and the most successful therapeutic (empirical and etiologic) protocols in onco-hematologic patients in Italy.
All patients suffering from hematologic malignancies (HM) with diagnosis of bacteremia caused by GNB (regardless of the antibiotic resistance characteristics of the bacterial isolate) admitted to the hematology units of the participating centers from January 1, 2016 until December 31, 2018 (or earlier if a sample of adequate statistical power is achieved) will be prospectively included in the HeMABIS 2016-2018 study. For each case of bacteremia caused by a Gram-negative bacterial isolate resistant carbapenemems included in the study, a control patient matched for type of HM and time-period of hospital stay and without diagnosis of bacteremia during the hospitalization will be also included. Informed consent to study participation will be required. For each patient, a case report form will be compiled.