Hospital-Acquired Infections in Critically Ill Patients With Cancer

Abstract

Hospital-acquired infections are a common and costly problem facing critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Critically ill patients with cancer are a particularly vulnerable subpopulation who possesses additional, nonmodifiable risk factors for developing these infections and, in many cases, are at increased risk of death as a result. This review will describe the most common nosocomial infections patients with cancer acquire while in the ICU: ventilator-associated events, central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and Clostridium difficile infection.

Central venous catheter–related bloodstream infections in patients with hematological malignancies: Comparison of data from a clinical registry and a randomized controlled trial

“…Pseudo-outbreaks (or pseudo-epidemics) are real clusters of false infections or artifactual clusters of real infections. 2 The pseudo-outbreak described here was caused by false-positive urinary-antigen test results. Community pseudooutbreaks of this kind have been reported previously.…”

“…To the Editor-Central venous catheter (CVC)-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) are clinically important healthcareassociated infections. 1,2 To reduce the burden of CRBSIs, many countries have implemented national surveillance programs. 3,4 Reliable epidemiological data are provided not only by cohort studies but also by randomized controlled trials (RCTs), [5][6][7] which are considered the gold standard for assessment of clinically relevant questions.…”

Association and risk factors of healthcare-associated infection and burden of illness among chemotherapy-induced ulcerative mucositis patients

“…Expectedly, cancer patients have improved outcome due to better-quality and value-added available therapies; however, as these patients are critically ill, exposed to multiple treatments, and longer hospital days, consequently escalating number of patients are exposed to the HAI [26]. The HAI are paramount concern among cancer patients as they are discharged to facilities for associated symptom management, involving acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, outpatient care, and long-term care facilities leading to higher financial burden [26][27][28]. While referring to home or self-care, or post-acute care, patients are at risk of infections [26,27].…”

Epidemiological and Microbiological Aspects of Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients During Radiotherapy / Aspectos Epidemiológicos E Microbiológicos Da Mucosite Oral Em Pacientes Com Câncer Na Região De Cabeça E Pescoço Durante a Radioterapia

“…Microorganisms that could be related to nosocomial infections were recovered from half of the sampled patients. Cancer patients are submitted to diagnostic and treatment procedures that increase hospital stay, consequently expanding the exposition to pathogen colonization, including multidrug-resistant ones 31 Kamath et al 32 showed a decrease in the oropharyngeal microbiota in HNC patients receiving RT when compared to the control group. Despite the differences among the compared studies, in the majority, microbial recovery occurred inside OM lesions grades III and IV, highlighting the isolation of opportunistic pathogens 28,29,30 .…”