Bacteremia in Cancer Patients with Solid Tumors Undergoing Chemotherapy versus Surgery: Risk Factors, Etiology and Outcome in 276 Patients

Abstract

Etiology, risk factors, outcome and complications of bacteremia in 276 patients with solid tumors were analyzed. A group of 78 patients with solid tumors and surgical therapy only was compared with 172 patients with solid tumors who were treated with chemotherapy only. The most frequently observed risk factors of bacteremia in patients after surgery was urinary catheter insertion, wound as source of bacteremia, age > 60, staphylococci, enterococci and Enterobacteriaceae as etiologic agents. In comparison, viridans streptococci and Pseudomonas aeruginosa as etiologic agents as well as vascular catheters were significantly more frequently found in those treated with chemotherapy only. Patients with bacteremia after surgery only had a lower incidence of septic shock (6.4 vs. 16.9%, P < 0.03) and also lower mortality (5.6 vs. 14.9%, P < 0.04) attributable to shock than patients being treated for solid tumors with chemotherapy only.