Abstract
Patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy are highly susceptible, especially if neutropenic, to almost any type of bacterial or fungal infection. These infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic use of antibiotics should be avoided, however, since this practice is associated with a risk of emergence of resistant bacteria and it does not lower the risk of death. However, chemoprophylaxis has a role for candidal fungal infections. Because infection in a neutropenic host can be rapidly fatal if not treated, the empirical administration of broadspectrum intravenous antibiotics is generally indicated for these patients, and the local frequencies, susceptibility, and resistance patterns of various pathogens must be taken into account. Once therapy has been initiated, changes in antibiotic regimens during the first 5 days are useless unless the patient's clinical condition deteriorates substantially. The treatment of invasive fungal infections is particularly difficult. Many unsolved questions remain, and studies are proposed here that may shed light on these issues.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 595-604 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | The Lancet Oncology |
| Volume | 4 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 1 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
Cite this
Infections in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy : Aetiology, prevention, and treatment. / Vento, Sandro; Cainelli, Francesca.
In: The Lancet Oncology, Vol. 4, No. 10, 01.10.2003, p. 595-604.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Infections in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy
T2 - Aetiology, prevention, and treatment
AU - Vento, Sandro
AU - Cainelli, Francesca
PY - 2003/10/1
Y1 - 2003/10/1
N2 - Patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy are highly susceptible, especially if neutropenic, to almost any type of bacterial or fungal infection. These infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic use of antibiotics should be avoided, however, since this practice is associated with a risk of emergence of resistant bacteria and it does not lower the risk of death. However, chemoprophylaxis has a role for candidal fungal infections. Because infection in a neutropenic host can be rapidly fatal if not treated, the empirical administration of broadspectrum intravenous antibiotics is generally indicated for these patients, and the local frequencies, susceptibility, and resistance patterns of various pathogens must be taken into account. Once therapy has been initiated, changes in antibiotic regimens during the first 5 days are useless unless the patient's clinical condition deteriorates substantially. The treatment of invasive fungal infections is particularly difficult. Many unsolved questions remain, and studies are proposed here that may shed light on these issues.
AB - Patients with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy are highly susceptible, especially if neutropenic, to almost any type of bacterial or fungal infection. These infections cause substantial morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic use of antibiotics should be avoided, however, since this practice is associated with a risk of emergence of resistant bacteria and it does not lower the risk of death. However, chemoprophylaxis has a role for candidal fungal infections. Because infection in a neutropenic host can be rapidly fatal if not treated, the empirical administration of broadspectrum intravenous antibiotics is generally indicated for these patients, and the local frequencies, susceptibility, and resistance patterns of various pathogens must be taken into account. Once therapy has been initiated, changes in antibiotic regimens during the first 5 days are useless unless the patient's clinical condition deteriorates substantially. The treatment of invasive fungal infections is particularly difficult. Many unsolved questions remain, and studies are proposed here that may shed light on these issues.
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U2 - 10.1016/S1470-2045(03)01218-X
DO - 10.1016/S1470-2045(03)01218-X
M3 - Review article
VL - 4
SP - 595
EP - 604
JO - The Lancet Oncology
JF - The Lancet Oncology
SN - 1470-2045
IS - 10
ER -