Rising Antimicrobial Resistance Poses Threat to Cancer Care

A new systematic review and meta-analysis provides the first comprehensive global data on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance (AMR) in major bacterial pathogens affecting cancer patients. The study found that patients with haematological cancers were the most represented group (36.4%), with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Enterobacter spp. The high rates of AMR among these pathogens highlight the urgent need for improved infection control measures and antimicrobial stewardship in cancer care settings.