Distribution of Pathogens and Antibiotic Sensitivity Profile in Oncologic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Infection is one of the most serious complications and leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hematological-oncological disorders. We aimed to assess distribution of pathogens and their antibiotic resistance pattern in patients admitted to hematology-oncology department of Namazi Hospital, Shiraz from April 2016 to March 2017.  Methods: The current cross-sectional study found out 234 patients with positive culture from different sites. Patients with all kind of malignancies were included in the study. Isolation of the pathogens and antibiotic resistance pattern was conducted using disc diffusion Method. Results: Among 234 subjects with positive culture, gram negative and gram positive bacteria, and fungi comprised 45.3%, 32.4%, and 22.2% of the cases, respectively. The most common pathogens were E. coli (20.9 %) and Non-albicans Candida (20.9 %). Data analysis found E. coli, Acinetobacter, Enterococci, and catheter-related coagulase-negative Staphylococci highly resistant to fluoroquinolones, imipenem, vancomycin and ceftazidime, respectively. Conclusion: New strategies in prescribing antibiotics are demanded due to altered pathogenic sensitivity to the conventional antibiotics. Meanwhile, measures such as standard precautions and transmission-based precautions (i.e., contact, droplet, and airborne precautions) should be taken more seriously to decrease the emergence of bacterial and fungal infections.