Cancer Patients Face Elevated Risk of Carrying Antimicrobial Resistant 'Superbugs' First-of-their-kind studies published in The Lancet Oncology1 and Cancer Medicine2 provide new data showing that cancer patients in both hospital and ...

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. , May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- First-of-their-kind studies published in The Lancet Oncology 1 and Cancer Medicine 2 provide new data showing that cancer patients in both hospital and outpatient settings are at a substantially higher risk of developing antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections compared to all other non-cancer patients.

Together, the two studies, which are understood to be the first large, multi-center studies to quantify AMR among cancer patients in the U.S., offer some of the strongest evidence to date that superbugs pose a substantial risk to cancer patients across a variety of settings.

"As an oncologist, my ability to effectively treat a patient's cancer is predicated on the idea that antibiotics will both cure and prevent potentially fatal infections throughout their course of care," said study co-author Yehoda Martei, MD, University of Pennsylvania . "The rapid emergence of AMR among oncology patients will affect cancer care, including the possibility of undermining new innovations such as CAR T-cell therapy and other immunotherapies, given the risk of immunosuppression and opportunistic infections associated with these therapies."

The rise of AMR is rapidly diminishing the effectiveness of available antimicrobial medicines, contributing to approximately 4.7 million deaths per year. 4 Antibiotics and other antimicrobials like antifungals play a critical role in cancer care, both as a treatment for infections and as a preventative treatment to reduce the risk of infections associated with certain medical procedures, such as surgery or chemotherapy.

"These studies highlight a critical need for enhanced infection prevention programs, focused antibiotic and diagnostic stewardship, and an increased use of rapid diagnostic tools," said corresponding author Diane Flayhart , director Global Public Health at BD. "While we expected cancer patients to be at an increased risk of superbugs, we were surprised at the high proportion of AMR pathogens compared to non-cancer patients, especially in outpatient settings. It shows just how vulnerable cancer patients are to these dangerous pathogens."

Read more in The Lancet Oncology : "Incidence and prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in outpatients with cancer: a multicentre retrospective cohort study. "

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Contact: Jessica Offerjost BD Public Relations [email protected]

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