title: Fusobacterium nucleatum, a new invasive pathogen in neutropenic patients?
abstract: Three chemotherapy-induced neutropenic hematologic patients with severe systemic infection caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum, a Gram-negative anaerobic rod, are described. Anaerobic infections are not very common in this patient category, but in a short period of time, several such patients were seen. The infection was considered to be caused by a combination of chemotherapy-induced mucositis, which served as a portal of entry for the systemic infection, and the antibiotic regime used in these patients. This is a serious infection with a high mortality. In hematological neutropenic patients suffering from severe mucositis and fever, antibiotic therapy should cover anaerobic bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Landsaat
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van der Lelie
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bongaerts
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kuijper
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005674:Fusobacterium Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D016967:Fusobacterium nucleatum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications*; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology