Opportunistic infections in cancer patients

Abstract

Infections are the most common complication and major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer. Fever remains the only indicator of infection in this group of patients. The list of potential pathogens includes both conventional microorganisms and opportunistic agents. The epidemiological pattern of infections in patients with cancer is influenced by the following factors: 1) the severity and duration of neutropenia, 2) the nature of antineoplastic therapy, 3) host related factors, 4) the use of chemoprophylaxis and/or empirical antibiotic therapy, 5) the use of external medical devices such as central venous catheters, 6) environmental factors, and 7) duration of hospital stay. This article will focus on current challenges associated with opportunistic infections.

Keywords

• Neoplasms,Opportunistic Infections,Risk Factors

Kanser hastalarında fırsatçı enfeksiyonlar

Öz

Enfeksiyonlar kanser hastalarında mortalite ve morbiditeyi etkileyen en önemli faktörlerin başında gelmektedir. Ateş, çoğu zaman bu tip hastalardaki tek somut belirti olabilmektedir. Enfeksiyona yol açan etkenlerin listesi ise her geçen gün uzamaktadır; konvansiyonel mikroorganizmalara fırsatçı ajanlarda eklenmektedir. Enfeksiyon epidemiyolojisi bir takım faktörlerden etkilenmektedir, şöyle ki; (1) nötropeni şiddeti ve süresi, (2) seçilen antineoplastik tedavi, (3) konağa bağlı faktörler, (4) kemoproflaksi ve ampirik antibiyotik tedavisi, (5) santral venöz katater kullanımı, (6) çevresel faktörler (7) hastanede kalma süresi. Bu makalede amaç dikkati bu konuya çekmektir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ateş, enfeksiyon, kanser

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