Burden of Antimicrobial Resistance in Adult Hospitalized Patients With Cancer: A Multicenter Analysis

A retrospective study assessing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in hospitalized adult patients in 168 US healthcare facilities found that AMR rates were 1.5-2 times greater in cancer patients compared to noncancer patients. The study found that 6.4% of admissions were for cancer patients, while 93.6% were for noncancer patients. AMR pathogens were higher in cancer patients for most pathogen groups, including vancomycin-resistant enterococci, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producers, carbapenem-nonsusceptible Enterobacterales, and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The increased AMR rate in cancer patients underscores the need for enhanced infection prevention and diagnostic stewardship efforts.