Antibiotic treatment in end stage cancer patients, its advantages and disadvantages

Abstract

Aim: In this study our aim was to elucidate whether advanced cancer patients benefit from antibiotic treatment in the last days of life in addition to reviewing the relevant costs and effects.Materials and methods: We reviewed medical records from 100 end-stage cancer patients that treated with antibiotics during the hospitalization in Imam Khomeini hospital. Patient's medical records were analyzed retrospectively for cause and periodicity of infections, fever, increase in acute phase proteins, cultures, type and cost of antibiotic. Results: Microorganisms were found in only 29 patients (29%) and the most microorganism among the patients was E.coli (6%). About 78% of the patients had clinical symptoms. The highest dose of antibiotics was related to Ceftriaxone (40.2%) and in the second place was Metronidazole (34.7%) and the lowest dose was related to Levofloxacin, Gentamycine and Colistine (1.4%). Fifty-one patients (71%) did not have any side effects due to antibiotics. The most common side effect of antibiotics among patients was skin rash (12.5%). The average estimated cost for antibiotic use was 7935540 Rials (24.4 dollars).Conclusion: Regardless of not prescribing antibiotics or the type of antibiotics used, it was ineffective in treating advanced cancer patients. The cost of using antibiotics during hospitalization is very high, and physicians should consider the risk of developing resistant hospital strains. Antibiotic side effects also occur in patients, causing more harm to the patient at the end of life.