Objective  The present study aims to analyze the bloodstream infection profiles and assess the risk factors associated with mortality of cancer patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) with bloodstream infections.

  Methods  Medical records of cancer patients with bloodstream infections, admitted to the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital during January 2010 and June 2011, were retrospectively analyzed.

  Results  Microbiological data of 88 cases with bloodstream infections were recorded in our study (56 males, 32 females; 65.8 ±24.2 years old). Of the total patients, 45 survived and 43 died. The most commonly seen etiological agents of bloodstream infections were coagulase-negative staphylococci in 42 cases (37.8%), Escherichia coli in 15 cases (13.5%), and Candida albicans in 9 cases (8.1%). Univariate analysis showed that risk factors included mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days and duration of central venous catheterization and higher APACHE Ⅱ scores, of which, mechanical ventilation of more than 7 days was the independent mortality risk factor (odds ratio: 6.8, 95%; CI: 2.5–18.4; P < 0.001).

  Conclusion  Bloodstream infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci are the major source of mortality in severe tumor cases. Prevention and treatment of bloodstream infections should mainly focus on preventing infections caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci in cancer patients in the ICU.