Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 14, 2026

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
07:42

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Published on: July 1, 2020

Polymicrobial infection in patients with cancer: an underappreciated and underreported entity

Kenneth V I Rolston1, Gerald P Bodey, Amar Safdar

  • 1The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Clinical Infectious Diseases : an Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
|June 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Polymicrobial infections are common in cancer patients but poorly understood. Establishing clear definitions is crucial for better diagnosis and treatment of these complex infections.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Oncology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Polymicrobial infections represent approximately 15% of infections in cancer patients.
  • Existing research often focuses on monomicrobial infections, leaving polymicrobial and non-bacteremic infections under-documented.
  • Lack of standardized definitions for infections in immunocompromised hosts hinders comprehensive understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the limited available data on polymicrobial infections in cancer patients.
  • To highlight the critical need for consensus definitions for site-specific polymicrobial infections.
  • To advocate for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing studies on polymicrobial infections in cancer patients.
  • Analysis of current gaps in knowledge and definitions.
  • Discussion of implications for clinical practice.

Main Results:

  • Significant lack of detailed information on the spectrum and microbiology of polymicrobial infections.
  • Inconsistent or absent data on non-bacteremic polymicrobial infections.
  • Absence of established definitions for key infections like pneumonia and neutropenic enterocolitis.

Conclusions:

  • There is a pressing need for standardized definitions for polymicrobial infections in both neutropenic and non-neutropenic cancer patients.
  • Developing consensus definitions will facilitate a better understanding of infection scope and impact.
  • This understanding is essential for refining diagnostic work-ups and therapeutic interventions.

More Related Videos

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients13:50

Sequencing of Bacterial Microflora in Peripheral Blood: our Experience with HIV-infected Patients

Published on: June 11, 2011

Related Concept Videos

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic01:26

Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies. Common...
Cancer02:18

Cancer

Cancers arise due to mutations in genes involved in the regulation of cell division, which leads to unrestricted cell proliferation. Modern science and medicine have made great strides in the understanding and treatment of cancer, including eradicating cancer in some patients. However, there is still no cure for cancer. This is largely due to the fact that cancer is a large group of many diseases.
Treatment Resistent Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistent Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine02:50

Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine

Combining two or more treatment methods increases the life span of cancer patients while reducing damage to vital organs or tissue from the overuse of a single treatment. Combination therapy also targets different cancer-inducing pathways, thus reducing the chances of developing resistance to treatment.
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection01:26

Factors Affecting the Risk of Infection

The hosts' susceptibility to infection depends on several factors. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes helps protect the body against microbial attacks. When the skin is altered, the chance of infection, limb loss, and even death increases.
The integrity and count of the white blood cells help the body resist pathogens and fight infection. When impaired, it reduces the body's resistance to pathogens. The acidic pH levels of the gastrointestinal, genitourinary tracts, and skin create...