Post-chemotherapy infections in Uganda: Microbiology, epidemiology and outcomes

Cancer is an enormous clinical burden in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and as cancer treatment becomes more available, post-chemotherapy infections are an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the microbiology, risk factors, and outcomes of post-chemotherapy infection in SSA where HIV and malaria are endemic and community-acquired sepsis is often caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and Salmonella bacteremia. In order to determine the risk-factors and microbiology of post-chemotherapy febrile illness (PCFI) we will conduct a prospective cohort study including a chart review and infectious tests (blood cultures, malaria and TB testing, and multiplex quantitative PCR of blood samples) in patients who have received chemotherapy, develop fever, and are admitted to the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) in Kampala, Uganda or the Oncology Ward at Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST).