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Risk factors associated with isolation of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia in clinical specimens

VanCouwenberghe CJ, Farver TB, Cohen SH

Infection control and hospital epidemiology, 1997

60 participants

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors for patients whose cultures grew Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

DESIGN: Retrospective case-control study of 60 patients with cultures positive for S maltophilia, matched by specimen site to 120 controls whose cultures grew other gram-negative aerobic bacteria.

SETTING: University medical center.

RESULTS: S maltophilia was identified from the following sites: respiratory (36), wound (13), urinary (6), blood (4), and cerebral spinal fluid (1). By univariate analysis, cases had a higher risk of exposure than controls for ampicillin (P 1 indicating higher risk for cases, except for erythromycin, which had an odds ratio < 1.

CONCLUSIONS: The primary risk factor associated with isolation of S maltophilia was antibiotic use. For patients with pulmonary infections, chronic respiratory disease and length of time an endotracheal tube was in place also contributed to the risk. This suggests that judicious use of antibiotics may prevent some cases of S maltophilia infection.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case-control, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 60 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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