The prevalence, pathogens, and biochemical determinants of common nosocomial infections among colorectal cancer patients.

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) patients are immunocompromised, making them more susceptible to infection. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of nosocomial infection among CRC patients at Prince Noora Oncology Centre in National Guard Health Affairs and to analyze the relationship between various pathogens and clinico-pathological characteristics of CRC. A cross-sectional study was carried out at PNOC from the period 2016 until 2024 and included CRC patients whose age was >18 and excluded others. Cancer patients' demographics, personal and family history, cancer characteristics, infection characteristics, and pathogens were collected from medical records. A total of 377 patients with CRC were included, and 222 (58.9%) of them were males. The mean age was estimated to be 62.1 (SD13.4) years. About 235 (62.3%) of these patients were infected. The total number of detected pathogens was 690, of which 222 (32.2%) were <i>Escherichia coli</i>, followed by <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i>, 86 (12.5%), and <i>candida species</i>, 61 (8.8%). A significant relationship was found to be between the presence of infection and several variables like blood group (O +ve), cancer stage, and metastasis (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Two-thirds of CRC patients developed nosocomial infections. Gram-negative bacteria like <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Klebsiella pneumonia</i> are the most involved. In addition, blood group, metastasis, and late-stage cancer were identified as significant risk factors for such infections.