ABSTRACT

Many different infections may occur after surgical events in patients with solid tumors, though infections of the operative site are the most common nosocomial infections in any surgical patient. Also frequent, are infections of the lower respiratory tract, related or not to endotracheal intubation; of the urinary tract, usually related to the need for bladder or other urinary catheters; and bloodstream infections, mainly related to the use of intravascular catheters. This chapter reviews and discusses SSI produced after surgery for the most common tumors paying special attention to incidence, common clinical presentations and risk factors, diagnostic alertness, therapeutic principles and particular aspects of prophylaxis if pertinent. Due to the existing variety of tumors and surgical procedures, we first address –from head to limbs– the most common tumors requiring surgery in adults and end the chapter with a section in which SSI are described in child cancer and compared to the situation in adults.