Abstract
Background The incidence of health care-associated infections in patients with head and neck cancer receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (RT) is unknown. This retrospective study investigated the most common pathogens and their antibiotic sensitivity/resistance patterns in patients with head and neck cancer. Methods Infection rates in patients with head and neck cancer were analyzed over 2 periods (January 2005 to December 2009 and January 2010 to November 2012). Results In the first period, 140 health care-associated infections were observed among 2288 admissions, mostly because of gram-negative pathogens affecting the respiratory tract. In the second period, 212 health care-associated infections were observed. An increase in antibiotic resistance was reported. Health care-associated infections were more frequent with: male sex, age
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | E1009-E1013 |
Journal | Head and Neck |
Volume | 38 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 1 2016 |
Keywords
- chemotherapy
- head and neck cancer
- healthcare-acquired infections
- nosocomial
- radiotherapy
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Otorhinolaryngology