Microbial spectrum and susceptibility profile of opportunistic pathogens isolated from cancer patients attending a tertiary healthcare centre in Akure, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction. Cancer constitutes a formidable global public health challenge, infection complicates effective treatment regimen and detrimentally impacts survival in cancer-patients. This predicament is exacerbated by the rising specter of antimicrobial resistance. Methods. The study was conducted amongst clinically diagnosed cancer patients attending University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital, Akure. Characterization of bacterial and fungal isolates from blood samples of the patients was performed using standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility assessment was performed using disk diffusion and microdilution methods. Results. Overall, 40.3% of cancer cases manifested in individuals aged above 60 years, with breast cancer emerging as the predominant malignancy, accounting for 68.1% of cases. Moreover, retirees constituted the demographic with the highest representation among the cancer patients, encompassing 36.8% of the study population. The prevailing bacterial isolates comprised Klebsiella pneumoniae (25%) and Klebsiella aerogenes (18.75%), while Aspergillus fumigatus (30.12%) and Candida albicans (24.09%) constituted the predominant fungal isolates. Remarkably, the antimicrobial agents Cefuroxime, Cotrimoxazole, and Amphotericin-B exhibited suboptimal efficacy against these isolates. Conclusion. This study shows the increased vulnerability of cancer patients to opportunistic bacterial and fungal pathogens, many of which show resistance to conventional antimicrobial agents. Strict infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship measures are advocated to reduce infections in this susceptible population.