Fulminate anaerobic bacteremia after chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer despite the prophylactic use of GCSF

Case report

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Authors: Mila Petrova, Zhasmina Mihaylova, Albena Fakirova

Published Date April 2010 Volume 2010:3 Pages 35 - 37

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IMCRJ.S9383

Mila Petrova¹, Zhasmina Mihaylova¹, Albena Fakirova²

¹Clinic of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology; ²Department of Pathology, Medical Military Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria

Abstract: Chemotherapy-induced neutropenia often occurs in our routine work and presents an obstacle for adequate (dose and continuance) treatment, which may affect patients’ outcome. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (GCSFs) effectively prevent myelosuppression and thus improve the standard treatment. Through their application cases of chemotherapyinduced neutropenia have been reduced. Still these factors cannot remove entirely the danger of encountering neutropenia, which can cause dangerous complications. We present a case of a fulminate anaerobic infection with unknown origin in a patient with metastatic breast cancer after standard treatment with chemotherapy supported by GCSFs.

Keywords: neutropenia, granulocyte colony-stimulating factors, anaerobic infection, phlegmon

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