Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1986. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
INFECTIONS IN THE CANCER PATIENT
Cancer - Principles and Practice of Oncology. 2nd Edition. DeVita VT Jr, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Philadelphia, Lippincott, p. 1963-98, 1985.. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/86620354 Pizzo PA; Young RC; Infectious Disease Section, Pediatric Branch, NCI, Bethesda, MD
Abstract:
Infections in the cancer patient (pt) are discussed with respect to impaired host defense (integumentary and mucosal barriers; phagocytic defenses; cellular and humoral immunity; reticulodendothelial system and splenectomy; nutrition; exogenous and endogenous microbial flora; acquired immunodeficieny syndrome), initial evaluation and management of the febrile cancer pt (fever and granulocytopenia; preantibiotic evaluation; empiric antibiotic therapy), management of specific infectious complications (septicemia; respiratory tract infections; pulmonary infections; cardiovascular infections; gastrointestinal tract infections; genitourinary tract infections; cutanous infections; musculoskeletal infections: CNS infections; unexplained fever), and prevention of infection in cancer pts (preventing the acquisition of microorganism; improving defective host defenses). Although experience in the management of infectious complications in cancer pts has resulted in a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality, infection remains the most common cause of death and is a significant impediment to cancer therapy. The most significant challenge is the development of effective cancer treatment methods that are tumor-specific and do not produce the significant compromise of host defense that leads to infectious complications. (394 Refs)
Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/COMPLICATIONS Agranulocytosis/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Antibiotics/*THERAPEUTIC USE Antifungal Agents/THERAPEUTIC USE Bacterial Infections/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Blood Transfusion Fever/ETIOLOGY Gastrointestinal Diseases/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Herpesviridae Infections/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Human Immunization, Passive Infection/*COMPLICATIONS/PREVENTION & CONTROL/THERAPY Infection Control Leukocytes/TRANSPLANTATION Mycoses/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Neoplasms/*COMPLICATIONS/IMMUNOLOGY Patient Isolation Respiratory Tract Infections/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Septicemia/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY Skin Diseases, Infectious/COMPLICATIONS/THERAPY MONOGRAPH
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