title: Infections in adults with cancer in a developing country: a three year prospective study.
abstract: 319 episodes of infections in 174 cancer patients over a period of 3 years are reported in a developing country. 178 episodes were seen in leukaemias, 83 in lymphomas and 58 in other cancers. 146 episodes appeared in 89 neutropenic patients and 173 in non-neutropenic patients. In 163 (51%) episodes positive cultures were obtained with a total of 212 organisms. 192 (90.6%) of the isolates were bacteria; of these 107 (55.7%) were gram positive and 85 (44.3%) were gram negative. The findings are consistent with those reported in developed countries. Most commonly isolated bacteria were: staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, streptococcus, enterobacter, pseudomonas, diphtheroids and salmonella. 15 isolates (7%) were of candida. Most common sites of infection were respiratory tract, kidney and urinary tract and skin. There were a total of 64 deaths: 36 were directly related to infections. 11 of these patients died of hospital acquired infections; most commonly isolated organisms in these infections were staphylococcus, E. coli, pseudomonas and streptococcus.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Awidi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents