Acute leukemia is the most common pediatric hematological malignancy. Blood stream infections (BSI) are severe complications in these patients during chemotherapy. In patients with leukemia, early detection of the infectious agent and rapid initiation of appropriate treatment increase the success of treatment and reduce the death rate. In this study, we aimed to compare the causative microorganism and detection time with classical blood culture and sepsis qPCR MX-30 panel

Patients aged <18 years, diagnosed with acute leukemia from March-July 2023 were enrolled. Clinical presentations, demographic features, and microbiological findings were retrospectively reviewed. Blood culture and sepsis PCR panel were taken simultaneously from the first day of febrile neutropenia or fever persisted.

In total, 327 samples of 48 patients evaluated. No causative agent was detected in both blood culture and sepsis PCR panel in 262 (%80.2) samples. Although blood culture was negative in 19 (%5.8) samples, the sepsis PCR panel identified some microorganisms. Culture positivity was detected in 29 (%8.8) samples, while the sepsis PCR panel results were negative. Simultaneous identification was detected in 17 (%5.2) samples.

In our study, we found sepsis panel sensitivity as 90% and positive predictive value as 93%. Although conventional blood culture is a more accessible, inexpensive and reliable method for detecting the causative agent in leukemia patients, it will be useful due to early results with the sepsis qPCR MX-30 panel.