Table 2.

Common sites of infection in patients with solid tumors

Infection site	Comments
Bloodstream	Often associated with vascular access catheters and neutropenia. Changing epidemiology, with resistant Gram-negative organisms emerging
Breast	Generally related to breast cancer surgery, including reconstruction and implants. Changing epidemiology with MRSA and Gram-negative organisms common
Bone, cartilage, joints	Often surgery- or prosthetic device-related. May require device removal and/or long-term suppressive therapy
Central nervous system	Including ventriculitis, meningitis, shunt-related infections, and post-surgical infections
Skin and skin structure	Most often related to surgery, including invasive diagnostic procedures. May be chronic or persistent in irradiated areas. Poly-microbial infections are common
Respiratory tract	Aspiration pneumonia in patients with loss of gag reflex or ciliary function. Post-obstructive pneumonia (with empyema or fistula formation with progressive disease)
Hepato-biliary pancreatic	Ascending cholangitis (±bacteremia); local abscess formation, reactivation of viral infections (HBV, HCV, CMV)
Upper gastro-intestinal	Tracheo-esophageal fistula; percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG)-tube-related infection, gastric perforation with abscess formation or peritonitis
Lower gastro-intestinal, pelvic	Bowel perforation with peritonitis or abscess formation, neutropenic enterocolitis, Clostridium difficile- or CMV-associated colitis; perirectal/peri-anal infection
Genitourinary tract and prostate	Complicated urinary tract infections; obstructive uropathy; prostatitis; abdominal and/or pelvic abscesses