Surveillance for hospitalizations with infection-related diagnoses after chemotherapy among breast cancer patients diagnosed before age 65.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of population-based surveillance of the frequency of (and risk factors for) hospitalization with infection-related conditions potentially attributable to chemotherapy among breast cancer patients diagnosed before age 65 years in the USA, where a previous report was limited to older patients.
METHODS: This pilot study involved a sample of 675 Connecticut women diagnosed before the age of 65 years with early-stage breast cancer in 1999, who were identified from a population-based statewide cancer registry and were linked with a statewide inpatient hospital discharge database.
RESULTS: Hospitalization with an infection-related condition (neutropenia, fever, and/or infection/bacteremia) after diagnosis was found for 8.6% of 463 patients with chemotherapy vs. 2.8% of 212 without chemotherapy (p < 0.01). Such hospitalization was positively associated with lymph-node status and receipt of chemotherapy.
CONCLUSION: Population-based surveillance appears feasible, but larger US studies are needed, with additional information (including use of antibiotics) as outlined by the European Surveillance of Infections in Cancer Patients (ESIC) study of risks and risk factors for serious adverse outcomes after cancer treatment. Copyright (c) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.