Hospital acquired pneumonia risk factors in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Over the past 10 years, infection has remained as the main cause of illness and mortality among children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy. The high incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy with risk factors should be intervened earlier METHODS: An observational case control study of children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy. Patient with Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia considered as case and patient without Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia as control to analyze risk factors that affect the incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy from 2016 to 2018 was performed in the pediatric ward Dr. Soetomo General Academic Hospital with a total sampling technique. Nine risk factors were analyzed: age, gender, nutritional status, length of stay, risk stratification, chemotherapy phase, anemia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. Bivariate and multivariate analysis using chi-square, continuity correction, and logistic regression was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 120 children enrolled the study. Analyzed of risk factors showed risk stratification (p = 0.009), chemotherapy phase (p < 0.001), and neutropenia (p < 0.001) was proven to significantly affect the incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy. Age, gender, nutritional status, length of stay, anemia, and thrombocytopenia were not proven to be a risk factor that affects the incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: The incidence of Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia in children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on chemotherapy is significantly affected by the risk stratification, chemotherapy phase, and neutropenia.