Screening of Some Bacterial and Fungal Infections in Neutropenic Cancer Patients in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Aims: Infection is one of the most important complications of neutropenia and contributes to the high rate of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate some bacterial and fungal infections in cancer patients with neutropenia. Materials Methods: 110 specimens from 10 normal humans as a control group and 100 specimens from neutropenic cancer patients were collected. The ELISA technique was used to assess the presence of neutropenia in patients. The diagnosis of bacterial infections was based on the bacteriological culture of isolated specimens (blood, sputum, and urine) and biochemical test, then Vitek-2 Compact. Findings: 60 specimens (60%) contained an infection. 44 samples (73.3%) had positive blood cultures, consisting of 25 (41.6%) in leukemia patients and 19 (31.7%) in breast cancer patients. 6 samples (10.0%) of bladder cancer patients had positive urine cultures. Positive sputum was seen in 10 samples (16.7%) of patients with lung cancer, while the cultures of 40 samples (40.0%) were negative. Ten E. coli (16.7%) was in patients with leukemia and bladder cancer, 15 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25.0%) in patients with breast cancer and leukemia, and 25 Klebsiella pneumonia (41.7%) in the patients with leukemia, breast cancer, and bladder cancer. However, samples from patients with lung cancer contained 4 coagulase-positive Staphylococci (6.7%) and 6 Streptococcus pneumoniae (10.0%). Conclusion: Neutropenia is more common in leukemic patients. Gram-negative bacteria are the greatest public bacteria isolated in the patients. Klebsiella pneumonia and Streptococcus pneumonia are the most common Gram-positive bacteria. All types of bacteria are resistant to most antibiotics.