Chemotherapy of infections in cancer patients: a review.

The factors altering host-defense mechanisms and the nature and significance of the resultant infections in cancer patients by a wide variety of invasive organisms are described. The principle and method of selection of antimicrobial agents as therapy in initial empiric treatment of presumed infection in febrile cancer patients, as well as therapeutic agents fothe therapy of infections by specfic organisms, are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the more recently developed agents for the therapy of infections by Pseudomonas and other gram-negative bacilli.