Bacterial infections in cancer patients

摘要

abstract_textpDisease- and therapy-associated infections are not uncommon in oncology patients. The most important risk factor, however, is granulocytopenia, in particular in its severe form following chemotherapy, often associated with fever. Other important risk factors may include immune system disorders or in situ catheters/implants. Fever of unknown cause is common, particularly in the postchemotherapy phase, and is usually the result of an infection which is often challenging to identify. Depending on the duration of granulocytopenia and donor availability, a distinction is made between low-, standard- and high-risk patients in the case of stem cell or bone marrow transplantation. Antibiotic and/or antimycotic prophylaxis should be given early, since such infections are often masked and, if untreated, can rapidly prove fatal. Antibiotic and/or antimicrobial therapy should be used critically on the basis of the patient's risk profile and their likelihood of developing pathogen resistance./p/abstract_text