Invasive Rothia infections in children with acute myeloid leukemia: A report from the Canadian infections in AML research group

Rothia spp. (previously termed Stomatococcus) are normal flora that can cause invasive infections in immunocompromised hosts. The objective of this study was to describe infection characteristics and outcomes of Rothia spp. infections in a large cohort of children with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This retrospective chart review is a subanalysis of a larger study in which the aim was to identify factors associated with infection in pediatric patients with AML. Only sterile site infections occurring during chemotherapy were included. Among 578 children with AML, 17 (2.9%) children with at least 1 Rothia spp. infection were identified. All children were neutropenic at the time of infection. Eight (47%) had antecedent colitis or mucositis. Of the 17 infections, 16 were bacteremia and 1 was meningitis. Sepsis occurred in 4 patients, and 1 patient died due to infection. Rothia spp. infections are rare in pediatric AML but can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Future studies should describe trends in incidence and resistance patterns over time.