title: Invasive gram-positive bacterial infection in cancer patients.
abstract: Systematic studies have shown that gram-positive organisms are the leading cause of invasive bacterial disease in patients with cancer. A broad range of gram-positive bacteria cause serious infections in the cancer patient with the greatest burden of disease being due to staphylococci, streptococci, and enterococci. The evolution of cancer therapy and the changing epidemiology of major gram-positive pathogens mean that ongoing efforts are needed to understand and mitigate the impact of these bacteria in patients with malignancy. The development of novel antibacterials, optimization of treatment approaches, implementation of improved vaccines, and manipulation of the microbiome are all active areas of investigation in the goal of improving the survival of the cancer patient through amelioration of the disease burden of gram-positive bacteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Vance G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Department of Genomic Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Samuel A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Shelburne
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001428:Bacterial Vaccines
keywords: antimicrobial resistance; gram-positive bacteria; infection; neutropenia