Nosocomial Infections Due to Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Cancer Patients: A Seven-Year Experience of an Oncology Center in Western China

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Background: Bacterial infections are the most frequent complications in patients with malignancy, and the epidemiology of nosocomial infections among cancer patients has changed over time. This study aimed to evaluate characteristics, antibiotic-resistant patterns, and prognosis of nosocomial infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) in cancer patients. Methods: This retrospectively analyzed cancer patients with MDR bacteria caused nosocomial infections from August 2013 to May 2019 and was conducted to explore the risk factors, clinical features, outcomes, and antibiotic-resistant patterns of these infections. Results: Overall, 257 cancer patients developed nosocomial infections caused by MDR bacteria. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae was the most frequently isolated multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDRGNB), followed by ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumonia, and Acinetobacter baumannii. Cancer patients with liver disease, received intrapleural/abdominal infusion within 30 days, length of hospitalization, hemoglobin, and albumin were independent factors for 30-day mortality in the study population. The isolated MDR bacteria were highly sensitive to amikacin, meropenem, imipenem, tigecycline, and piperacillin/tazobactam. Conclusions: Cancer patients with prolonged hospitalization was an independent predictor of a favorable outcome. However, cancer patients with liver disease, received intrapleural/abdominal infusion within 30 days, anemia, and hypoproteinemia were independent risk factors of 30-day mortality.</jats:p>