Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics of Bloodstream Infections in Head and Neck Cancer Patients: A Decadal Observational Study

This retrospective study aims to describe the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and the risk factors in patients with head and neck cancer (n = 227) treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Tohoku University Hospital between April 2011 and March 2021. Overall, 23.3% of blood cultures were positive. In the culture-positive group, catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) were the most common (38.8%), followed by respiratory tract infections (19.4%), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (6.0%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (26.9%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (17.9%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10.4%) infections were common. The most frequent treatment for head and neck cancer was surgery (23.9%), followed by treatment interval or palliative care (19.4%), and single radiotherapy (13.4%). The 30-day mortality rate was significantly higher in the BSI than in the non-BSI group (10.4% vs. 1.8%, respectively). CRBSIs are the most frequent source of BSIs in patients with head and neck cancer. In conclusion, central venous catheters or port insertion should be used for a short period to prevent CRBSIs. The risk of developing BSI should be considered in patients with pneumonia. Understanding the epidemiology of BSIs is crucial for diagnosing, preventing, and controlling infections in patients with head and neck cancer.