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The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship pp 337–348Cite as

Infections and Cancer

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Abstract

Infections are major causes of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. The risk of infection is determined by the intensity and duration of myelosuppressive and/or immunosuppressive chemotherapy. In patients with hematological malignancies, the underlining malignancy itself may be associated with neutropenia and/or immune defects. In solid tumors, anatomical factors may predispose patients to infection. Other predisposing factors include intravenous devices, neutropenia, mucosal integrity, treatment with corticosteroids, usage of monoclonal antibodies, splenic function, and treatment with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Patients with neutropenic fever often have an established or an occult infection. Patients with neutropenia are at the highest risk of severe infections although prevention is possible in >50% of the cases through the use of G-CSF (granulocyte colony-stimulating factors). Bacteremia is documented in approximately a quarter of the patients with febrile neutropenia. In terms of risk assessment, the MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer) has pioneered and developed an index that predicts for high risk or low risk of medical complications which helps in tailoring the most appropriate management for these patients.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medicine Department, Institut Jules Bordet, Centre des Tumeurs de l’ULB, Brussels, Belgium

    Jean Klastersky

  2. The Medical Oncology Centre of Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Bernardo L. Rapoport

  3. Faculty of Health Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Bernardo L. Rapoport

  4. Cancer Center, Institut Multidisciplinaire d’Oncologie, Clinique de Genolier, Genolier, Vaus, Switzerland

    Matti Aapro

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Center, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Ronald Feld

Authors
  1. Jean Klastersky
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  2. Bernardo L. Rapoport
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  3. Matti Aapro
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  4. Ronald Feld
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Correspondence to Jean Klastersky .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia

    Ian Olver

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Klastersky, J., Rapoport, B.L., Aapro, M., Feld, R. (2018). Infections and Cancer. In: Olver, I. (eds) The MASCC Textbook of Cancer Supportive Care and Survivorship. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90990-5_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-90990-5_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-90990-5

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