To treat or not to treat: Assessing the role of anti-enterococcal therapy for intra-abdominal infections in patients with cancer

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298018
• Publication Date: 2024-02-07T18:33:58Z
• Authors: Nana Akazawa; Naoya Itoh; Fumika Mano-Usui; Hisato Tatsuoka; Norihiko Terada; Hanako Kurai
• Keywords: Adult; Science; Q; R; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Neoplasms; Medicine; Humans; Intraabdominal Infections; Prospective Studies; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Enterococcus; Research Article; Retrospective Studies

The clinical significance of enterococci in intra-abdominal infections, particularly those caused by multiple organisms, remains unclear. There are no definitive guidelines regarding the use empiric therapy with antimicrobial agents targeting enterococci. In this study, we evaluated impact initial administration anti-enterococcal on treatment infections patients cancer whom were isolated from ascitic fluid cultures. This retrospective study was conducted at Shizuoka Cancer Center between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2020, all adult their primary outcome all-cause mortality, secondary outcomes composite consisting three components (mortality, recurrence, failure) risk factors associated mortality outcomes. total, 103 included: 61 received covering enterococci, 42 did not. rates not differ significantly treated untreated groups (treated: 8/61 [13.1%]; untreated: 5/42 [11.9%]; p = 1.00). Additionally, significant difference observed terms (treated group: 11/61 [18.0%]; 9/42 [21.4%]; 0.80). Multivariate analysis showed that performance status (PS2–4; < 0.0001) an independent factor for mortality. also higher PS2–4 (p 0.007). Anti-enterococcal or outcome. prognosis, whereas PS2 prognosis. results suggest routine may be essential cancer. To substantiate these findings, validation a prospective randomized trial is warranted.