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CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, Vol 23, 138-150, Copyright © 1973 by American Cancer Society

Life Threatening Infections in Cancer Patients

¹ Chief, Infectious Disease Service; Director, Microbiology Laboratory and Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, Memorial Hospital for Cancer and Allied Diseases, New York, New York; and Associate Professor of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York.

Infectious complications of cancer are frequently life threatening and are steadily increasing in incidence with more aggressive use of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive chemotherapy and extensive surgery. Certain organisms show a predilection for immunosuppressed patients while others are seen more frequently, and should be anticipated, in surgical situations. A specific microbial diagnosis is extremely important in patients with altered host defenses due either to disease, immunosuppression or extensive surgery. Isolation and identification of the offending organism provides the specific information necessary for rational and effective antibiotic therapy.