Background: Bloodstream infection is a common complication, which can be life-threatening for hematopoietic stem cells transplant recipients.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of bloodstream infections in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Methods: Observational, retrospective study. We reviewed the records of 451 patients (autologous and allogeneic transplants) from January 2009 to October 2015.

Results: 99 positive blood cultures in 73 patients with bloodstream infection (16%) were found. Mortality attributable to infectious causes was 17%. From the 99 bloodstream infection, 63% were caused by gram-negative bacilli (Escherichia coli 45%, Klebsiella spp 23%, Pseudomonas spp 11% Acinetobacter spp % and other bacilli 15%), 33% by gram-positive cocci, 3% by fungi and 1% by gram-positive bacilli. The gram-negative bacilli were ciprofloxacin resistant (81%), piperacillin/tazobactam resistant (48%), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae (40%), cefepime resistant (39%) and there was no resistance noted to amikacin.

Conclusions: There is a higher frequency of gram-negative bacilli infection, with a high percentage of multiresistant microorganisms and high resistance to empirical antibiotic treatment.