The Spectrum of Infections in Patients with Lung Cancer

Abstract

Although diagnostic and therapeutic advances in lung cancer (LC) have increased the survival of patients, infection and its complications are still among the most important causes of mortality. The disruption of tissue caused by tumor mass, management of cancer therapy and alteration in the humoral/cellular immune systems due to both cancer itself and therapy considerably increase susceptibility to infection in cancer patients. Particularly, opportunistic microorganisms should be considered, then applying rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods for them. Thus, cancer patients who are already exposed to difficult, long-term and expensive treatments can be prevented from dying from complications related to infections.

Keywords:

• Lung cancer
• opportunistic infections
• bacteria
• virus
• fungus
• parasite

Author contribution

Each author contributed to the manuscript. DSU, OUB, OSU, and SK drafted the manuscript. AC and SK critically revised, and AC finalized the manuscript. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.

Consent form

All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work is supported by TUBITAK with Project No: 120N924.