Anaerobic bacteraemia in cancer patients

摘要

The recent article in CMI by Zahar et al. reported 45 cases of anaerobic bacteraemia in cancer patients during a 6-year period. The authors made the important point that, although these infections occur infrequently, they can be serious, and even fatal. The use of some antimicrobial agents, such as ceftazidime, as initial monotherapy for fever does not provide coverage for anaerobic bacteria. Delayed administration of appropriate therapy, or inappropriate therapy, results in substantially higher mortality rates.