OBJECTIVES

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) poses a significant risk of complications in cancer patients. However, limited studies have evaluated hospitalised cancer patients with CAP. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients hospitalised with CAP.

METHODS

This retrospective study included adult cancer patients diagnosed with CAP admitted at the King Hussein Cancer Center, Jordan, from January 2021 to August 2022, following the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines. Patient characteristics, microbiological cultures, length of hospital stay, intensive care unit (ICU) transfers and all-cause mortality were recorded. Early clinical stability was defined as temperature ≤37.8°C, heart rate ≤100 beats/min, respiratory rate ≤24 breathes/min, systolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg and oxygen saturation ≥90% while breathing room air on the third day of admission.

RESULTS

A total of 632 cancer patients were admitted with CAP. The mean age was 60 ± 13.9 years, with 55.2% of the patients being male. Breast cancer was the most prevalent malignancy (22.9%), and 48.6% had received cancer-related treatment within the last 2 months. Positive blood and sputum cultures were detected in 12.4% and 30.0% of patients, respectively. Early clinical stability was achieved in 48.9%, and 88.9% of those patients were discharged after a median stay of 6 days (range: 1-48). Among the included patients, 3.2% required ICU transfer, and 10.9% died.

CONCLUSIONS

Early clinical stability was achieved in approximately half of the patients, most of whom were discharged home. Future research should identify interventions to improve clinical outcomes for cancer patients with CAP.