Abstract

Infections cause considerable mortality and morbidity in patients with lung cancer. In this study, clinical and microbiological manifestations of respiratory tract infections, and the factors related with the treatment and prognosis were investigated retrospectively. Among the 1732 patients with lung cancer, 220 (12.7%) of them demonstrated lower respiratory tract infections. Most of the patients (68.3%) had non-small cell carcinoma and stage IV disease. The most common respiratory system infection was community acquired pneumonia caused by Staphylococcus aureus. β-lactamase inhibitors, cephalosporins and newer macrolides were used initially and treated 72.7% of the patients. The mortality rate due to these infections were 8.5%. Sex, age, tumor type and stage of the disease, type of treatment and neutropenia were not related with treatment response and mortality.