ABSTRACT The spectrum of nontuberculous mycobacterial infections has changed. Improved understaning of immunopathogenesis of slow growing mycobacterial disease has been accompanied by a higher number of cases in patients with, or without cancer. In recent years, difficult-to-treat infections due to rapidly growing mycobacteria are on the rise, this may in part reflect newer molecular identification […]
ABSTRACT This chapter will outline various aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of Tuberculosis in the cancer patients. Rather than reviewing basic tenets of Tuberculosis diagnosis and therapy, which have been extensively reviewed and codified in national guidelines, the focus is on aspects of Tuberculosis specific to cancer patients. In many cases, specific clinical data […]
ABSTRACT Cancer as such does not impact distribution of antimicrobials; however, various pathophysiological changes in cancer patients may do so. Neutropenia, cachexia, hypoproteinemia, and effusions are common situations in cancer patients that may change the concentrations of antibiotics in blood and tissues. Such changes should be taken into account and dosage regimens adapted accordingly. As […]
ABSTRACT The bacterium Listeria monocytogenes infrequently causes illness in the general population. In some groups, however, including pregnant women, newborns, elderly persons, and those with impaired cell-mediated immunity, including many cancer patients, it is an important cause of invasive disease, particularly bacteremia, meningitis, encephalitis, and brain abscess. Nocardia species are aerobic, gram-positive, branching, filamentous, bacterial […]
ABSTRACT Many cancer treatment centers have documented a decline in the proportion of bacterial infections caused by aerobic gram-negative bacilli in the past two decades. Nevertheless, these organisms still cause a wide spectrum of infection (from benign colonization to disseminated disease), and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer, particularly during […]
ABSTRACT Gram-negative rods were the predominant bacterial pathogens causing invasive disease in patients with cancer. However, a major rise in the incidence of Gram-positive infections occurred in the mid- to late-1980’s such that Gram-positive organisms now cause the majority of invasive bacterial disease in patients with cancer. Reasons for the increase in Gram-positive infections include, […]
ABSTRACT Development of prophylactic, pre-emptive, and therapeutic strategies has reduced the morbidity and mortality of viral infections after HSCT. However, the future success of such strategies is threatened by the increasing emergence of antiviral-resistant virus strains. In some cases, resistance is common enough to warrant changes in recommendations for prophylaxis (e.g influenza in the 2008-9 […]
ABSTRACT The polyomaviruses BK and JC virus as well as parvoviruses are emerging infections in patients with hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. BK virus has a predilection to the urinary tract and may cause hemorrhagic cystitis and nephritis. BK viremia appears to be an important marker and predictor for BK disease in immunocompromised […]
ABSTRACT The respiratory viruses as a group are the most common cause of an acute infectious illness in developed societies. The immunocompromised state of many cancer patients constitutes the basis for the frequent failure of the host to promote a normal and rapid recovery from an acute respiratory viral infection and results in a more […]
ABSTRACT Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), and Human Herpes Viruses-6 (HHV-6) and -8 (HHV-8) present unique management challenges to clinicians that care for patients with cancer. Although latent infection by these organisms is either common (HHV-8, VZV) or essentially ubiquitous (EBV, HHV-6), clinical manifestations vary widely in frequency and severity. Syndromes caused by […]