Journal of Clinical & Experimental Pathology
Open Access

Abstract

Infection is a continuous and significant problem in cancer patients. Cancer causes both direct and indirect effect on a patient's immune system. Many factors increase the susceptibility of immunosuppressed cancer patients to infection which includes neutropenia during aggressive therapy, altered gut flora because of frequent antibiotic administration, disruption of skin and damage of epithelial surfaces by cytotoxic agents. We determine the pattern of microorganisms and their drug sensitivities in febrile neutropenia patients because fever during chemotherapy-induced neutropenia may be the only indication of a severe underlying infection. Data were collected prospectively from all neutropenic patients admitted during the year 2012 at Children Cancer Hospital. Out of 150 patients, 72% cultures were positive. A total of 51% were Gram positive bacteria and 22% were Gram negative bacteria in which coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common Gram positives isolated in blood. There was emerging resistance to all commonly used antibiotics including Co-trimoxazole, Ceftriaxone, Tetracycline, Cefixime, Cloxacillin, and Erythromycin. In our study, we observed that the microbial pattern has been shifted from Gram negative to Gram positive bacterial infections as trend of resistance from commonly use antibiotics is increasing. Due to this fact, second line of drugs is used as first line in these patients.

Biography

Email: hina.qaiser88@gmail.com