Eleven-year study of recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia.

In order to describe the epidemiology and the clinical and microbiological manifestations of recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia, a long-term study was conducted. Between January 1988 and December 1998, a total of 344 episodes of bacteremia caused by pneumococci was detected in 331 patients. Thirteen (3.9%) of these patients experienced recurrent episodes of pneumococcal bacteremia, and all of them had underlying diseases. In 12 of these patients the recurrence was considered to be a reinfection, and in one patient it was considered to be a relapse. Three patients were found to harbor identical strains in both bacteremic episodes, as determined by pulsed-field techniques. Only hematological neoplasia appeared to be a predisposing factor for recurrent pneumococcal bacteremia.