When a cancer patient develops an infection, it's a serious health problem. About one in 10 patients requires a hospital visit because of an infection.
Cancer-related infections often arise from a condition called neutropenia, which occurs when a patient's white blood cell count declines. White blood cells are part of the immune system and help fight infection and disease.
Cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy, kills healthy white blood cells along with cancer cells. This compromises the immune system and leaves patients vulnerable to infection. About 60,000 cancer patients must go to the hospital each year because of neutropenia, and about two-thirds of those hospitalized have a documented infection.
Both bacteria and viruses can cause infections. Eighty to 85 percent of the organisms that cause infections in cancer patients come from endogenous microflora, those organisms that live in our body but generally do not cause disease in healthy people. Patients acquired about 50 percent of these infections in the hospital. In fact, according to Consumer Reports, hospital patients develop about 1.7 million infections each year. Most are infections in the blood stream from IV (intravenous) catheters.
The rise in infections in cancer patients is at least partly the result of advances in powerful chemotherapy regimens and bone marrow and other life-saving transplants. Patients are increasingly surviving cancer, but at the expense of weakened immune systems. Furthermore, patients with suppressed immune function are especially vulnerable to new pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, and fungal, viral, and protozoal (microscopic organisms) infections, which are difficult to recognize and treat in a timely fashion.
While infections occur in patients with solid tumors, they are particularly common in people with leukemia, and are a significant cause of death in these patients.
Fortunately, hospitals are implementing rigorous programs to reduce infections. Cancer patients can also take steps to minimize the likelihood of serious infection-related outcomes. Washing your hands frequently is one of the easiest and most effective steps you can take.
The hallmark sign of an infection is a fever. Call your physician or go to the emergency room if you develop a fever of 100.4° F or higher. Be aware of other infection red flags, such as:
- chills and sweats
- cough
- sore throat
- mouth sores
- shortness of breath
- nasal congestion
- stiff neck
- changes in-or pain with-urination
- diarrhea
- pain
- vomiting
Cancer patients are at greater risks for complications from the flu, even after they conclude treatment. The CDC recommends that cancer patients talk to their physician about a flu shot and the pneumococcal pneumonia shot.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control. "NEUTROPENIA AND RISK FOR INFECTION." Web.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections/pdf/neutropenia.pdf
Centers for Disease Control. "Preventing infections in Cancer Patients." Web. 25 October 2011.
http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PreventInfections/
Centers for Disease Control. "Cancer, the Flu, and You." Web. 26 October 2011.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/flu/
Saria, Marlon, MSN, RN, AOCNS. "Preventing and Managing Infections in Neutropenic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients: Evidence-Based Review." Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 15(2) (2011): 133-139. Medscape Medical News. Web. 27 May 2011. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/741265
Rolston, Kenneth V. I., MD and Bodey, Gerald P. MD. "Chapter 157: Infections in Patients with Cancer. " Cancer Medicine, 6th Edition. U.S. National Library of Medicine. BC Decker, 2003.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20904/
Segal, Brahm H., MD. "Preventing and Managing Infections in Patients With Cancer: An Expert Interview With Dr. Brahm H. Segal." Medscape Medical News. Web. 23 September 2008.
http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/580631
Consumer Reports. "Deadly infections: How good is your hospital at preventing them?" Web. June 2011.
http://www.consumerreports.org/health/doctors-hospitals/hospital-infection/deadly-infections-hospitals-can-lower-the-danger/overview/deadly-infections-hospitals-can-lower-the-danger.htm
