A transaction pattern table is maintained using a transaction stream monitor that monitors a transaction stream. Transactions are completed within a transaction processing system, and transactions are replicated from a source database to a target database by a replication engine. The transaction pattern table includes a plurality of records. Each record includes a transaction pattern. Each completed transaction is a series of one or more transaction steps or operations, and the transaction pattern is a series of one or more transaction steps or operations of the completed transaction. In operation, each transaction step or operation is analyzed in the transaction stream by the transaction stream monitor. It is then detected as to whether a transaction step or operation begins a new transaction. Monitoring of the transaction stream continues for transaction steps or operations for the detected new transaction and the transaction steps or operations for the transaction for the detected new transaction are entered into a change pattern. A first action is taken with respect to the change pattern for the transaction for the detected new transaction when a transaction step or operation for the detected new transaction is an abort or rollback operation, and a second action is taken with respect to the change pattern for the transaction for the detected new transaction when a transaction step or operation for the detected new transaction is a commit operation.