Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Nov;71(6):488-504.
doi: 10.3322/caac.21697. Epub 2021 Sep 21.

Antibiotic resistance in the patient with cancer: Escalating challenges and paths forward

Amila K Nanayakkara  1 , Helen W Boucher  2 , Vance G Fowler Jr  3 , Amanda Jezek  4 , Kevin Outterson  5   6 , David E Greenberg  1   7
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Antibiotic resistance in the patient with cancer: Escalating challenges and paths forward

Amila K Nanayakkara et al. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 Nov.
Free article

Abstract

Infection is the second leading cause of death in patients with cancer. Loss of efficacy in antibiotics due to antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an urgent threat against the continuing success of cancer therapy. In this review, the authors focus on recent updates on the impact of antibiotic resistance in the cancer setting, particularly on the ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.). This review highlights the health and financial impact of antibiotic resistance in patients with cancer. Furthermore, the authors recommend measures to control the emergence of antibiotic resistance, highlighting the risk factors associated with cancer care. A lack of data in the etiology of infections, specifically in oncology patients in United States, is identified as a concern, and the authors advocate for a centralized and specialized surveillance system for patients with cancer to predict and prevent the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Finding better ways to predict, prevent, and treat antibiotic-resistant infections will have a major positive impact on the care of those with cancer.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; antibiotics; bacterial infections; cancer.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Spink WW, Ferris V. Penicillin-resistant staphylococci: mechanisms involved in the development of resistance. J Clin Invest. 1947;26:379-393. doi:10.1172/JCI101820
    1. Aminov RI. A brief history of the antibiotic era: lessons learned and challenges for the future. Front Microbiol. 2010;1:134. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2010.00134
    1. Hamilton KW. Miracle Cure: The Creation of Antibiotics and the Birth of Modern Medicine. Emerging Infect Dis. 2019;25:196. doi:10.3201/eid2501.181184
    1. Ventola CL. The antibiotic resistance crisis: part 1: causes and threats. P T. 2015;40:277-283.
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019 (2019 AR Threats Report). Accessed February 25, 2021. cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest-threats.html.

MeSH terms

Substances

LinkOut - more resources