Aspergillosis is a disease caused by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus spp. with a spectrum of clinical presentation that includes invasive and noninvasive forms. The invasive clinical presentation of aspergillosis most frequently affects people with compromised immune systems. In patients with oncohematologic pathology, invasive lung aspergillosis is a significant opportunistic mycosis, because it occurs frequently and has a major impact on morbidity, mortality, and high costs. The global problem of antimicrobial resistance, to which improper use of antifungals contributes, has put Aspergilus spp. in the spotlight, so it is important to generate guidelines for guidance in the proper use of antifungals in the management of invasive lung aspergillosis, to obtain better clinical outcomes and promote rational use of antifungals. This guideline contains recommendations for diagnosing and treating invasive lung aspergillosis in patients with oncohematologic disease, based on evidence and defined through a participatory process of expert consensus, for the Latin American context.

Candidemia is the predominant form of invasive candidiasis and the most frequently occurring serious fungal infection in critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Studies carried out in Latin America reveal a higher incidence of candidemia and higher mortality rates when compared to North America or Europe. This highlights the need to develop guidelines for correctly diagnosing and treating candidemia in critically ill patients in the ICU. These guidelines are part of the efforts to implement antifungal optimization programs in the region to obtain better clinical outcomes and promote rational antifungal use. This evidence-based clinical standard, established through expert consensus for the Latin American context, contains recommendations and algorithms for diagnosing and treating candidemia in critically ill ICU patients.

e19536 Background: Globally, cryptococcal infection has become a public health challenge. However, relatively little is known about cryptococcal infection in non-HIV/non-transplant oncohematological patients. Methods: We developed a retrospective cohort study that includes hematological patients who had cryptococcosis infection seen in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas between 2007 and 2018. We exclude HIV and transplant recipients patients. Results: During the 12-year study period, among 14908 individuals with hematological malignancies (HM), a total of 21 cases of cryptococcosis were identified, representing an incidence rate of 1.41 per 1000 HM diagnosed in our center. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (47.6%), acute leukemias (23.8%), multiple myeloma (19.1%), and Hodgkin lymphoma (9.5%). Three cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma were identified. The sub-group analysis showed that NHL (7.35 per 1000 NHL) and Multiple myeloma (4.59 per 1000 MM) had the highest incidence rates. Regarding the clinical presentation, the time between the diagnosis of cryptococcosis and HM was 42 (18–161) days. Cryptococcal fungemia and antigenemia was the most frequent diagnosis (85.7%), followed by pulmonary (52.4%) and central nervous system (38.1%) involvement. At the time of the diagnosis of cryptococcosis, 61.5% were receiving chemotherapy, 53.9% were in the induction phase, and 7.7% were on maintenance therapy. The use of immunosuppressants and chemotherapy within a month of the diagnosis of cryptococcosis was the most common risk factor (90.5%). Regarding the subanalysis performed between the different types of malignancies (NHL versus other HM), age at admission (p = 0.02), site of cryptococcosis presentation (p = 0.01), and lymphocyte count at admission (p = 0.01) were statistically different between these groups. In the NHL subgroup, there was less involvement of the lungs and higher fungemia (p = 0.01). The overall survival (OS) of our cohort at 15 and 120 days was 70% (95%CI: 0.43-0.86) and 51% (95%CI: 0.26-0.72), respectively. OS for patients with NHL was 57% at 15 days (95% CI: 0.17-0.83) and 42% at 120 days (95%CI:0.09-0.73). OS for other HM was 90% at 15 days (95%CI:0.47-0.98) and 60% at 120 days (95%CI: 0.25-0.82). Conclusions: Our cohort characterized the distinct clinical presentation, risk factors, and outcomes of cryptococcal infection in hematologic malignancies subgroups. NHL was the HM with the worst prognosis and the highest incidence rate. [Table: see text]

Background Globally, cryptococcal infection has become a public health challenge. However, relatively little is known about cryptococcal infection in people with hematological disorders. Methods We developed a retrospective cohort study that includes hematological patients who had cryptococcosis infection seen in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas between 2007 and 2017. Results During the 11-year study period, a total of 21 cases of cryptococcosis (incidence rate of 13,4 per 1000 hematological malignancies). The time of diagnosis of cryptococcosis since hematologic malignancy diagnosis was 42 (18-161) days. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was the most frequent malignancy (47.6%), followed by leukemias (23.8%), multiple myeloma in (19.1%), and HL (9.5%). Three cases of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma associated with HTLV-1 infection were identified in the NHL. Cryptococcemia was the most frequent diagnosis (85.7%) followed by pulmonary (52.4%) and CNS (38.1%) involvement. Regarding clinical presentation, f ever was the most common symptom in meningeal cryptococcosis (76.2%) and dyspnea in pulmonary cryptococcosis (61.9%). The use of immunosuppressant chemotherapy within a month before the diagnosis of cryptococcosis was the most common risk factor. The main characteristics between patients with cryptococcosis and type of neoplasms (NHL vs other hematological neoplasms) such as age at admission, site of presentation of cryptococcosis, and lymphocyte count at admission were different significantly between these groups. In the NHL group, there was less involvement of the lungs. Overall survival (OS) in 15 and 120 days were 70% (95%CI: 0.43-0.86) and 51% (95%CI: 0.26-0.72), respectively. OS for patients with NHL was 57% at 15 days (95% CI: 0.17-0.83) and 42% at 120 days (95%CI:0.09-0.73). OS for other hematological malignancies was 90% at 15 days (95%CI:0.47-0.98) and 60% at 120 days (95%CI: 0.25-0.82). Conclusions CNS cryptococcal infection was more frequent in patients with NHL. Citation Format: Kelly Meza, Luis E. Cuellar. Non-HIV cryptococcal patients with hematological malignancies: A retrospective analysis of a ten-year study from a Peruvian oncologic center. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 6753.

PURPOSE Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is a multifocal angioproliferative disease. In Peru, the implementation of the highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) program was in 2005, the model for treating patients with HIV-positive KS shifted to a potential cure. In this study, we aim to compare clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors associated with outcomes in patients with HIV-positive KS. METHODS We developed a retrospective cohort study that includes patients with HIV/AIDS and KS seen in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas between 1987 and 2017. Patients were divided into two groups according to the implementation of HAART in our country: the non-HAART group and those treated with HAART after 2005. Multivariate analysis for overall survival (OS) was performed with the Cox proportional hazard regression model. RESULTS There was a greater visceral compromise and more extensive oral cavity involvement in the non-HAART group (60% 31.7%, P < .01). Regarding the immune status, there was a significant difference from the CD4 count at 1-year follow-up (73 v 335, P = .01). The CD4/CD8 rate were significant different before QT (0.23 v 0.13, P = .01) and at 1-year follow-up (0.12 v 0.32, P = .03.). The estimated 5-year OS rate was significantly lower (P = .0001) for the non-HAART group (41.7%; 95% CI, 25.9 to 56.9) compared with the HAART group (79.3%; 95% CI, 66.8 to 87.5). In the multivariate model for OS, full-HAART regimen and previous diagnosis of HIV/AIDS (P < .01) were significantly associated with longer survival. CONCLUSION Clinical and demographic characteristics of our patients are compatible with the literature, but we report a higher rate of gastrointestinal involvement. Furthermore, our findings provide evidence for the importance of HAART and its ability to reduce KS-related mortality.

La listeriosis es una infección severa de elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente inmunocomprometido, existen formas diseminadas y fatales en el paciente oncológico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo de las características clínico-epidemiológicas de los pacientes oncológicos con listeriosis atendidos en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas entre 2005 y 2015. Se incluyeron 29 pacientes, 23 (79,3%) casos de listeriosis se presentaron en pacientes con neoplasia hematológica, de los cuales el 52,3% fueron leucemia linfática aguda y 39,1% linfoma no Hodgkin. Listeria monocytogenes representó el 72,4% de las especies aisladas. Veintisiete (93,1%) tuvieron criterios de sepsis y veinticuatro (82,7%) compromiso neurológico al ingreso. La presentación más común fue la bacteriemia, seguida de la meningoencefalitis (20,6%). La mortalidad global fue del 75,8%. Se concluye que la listeriosis conlleva elevada morbimortalidad en el paciente oncohematológico, por lo que debe sospecharse en el paciente admitido con sepsis y/o compromiso neurológico agudo.

Background: Trichosporon fungaemia (TF) episodes have increased in recent years and mortality rates remain high despite the advances in the management of sepsis. New concepts about its clinical course, treatment and microbiology need to be investigated for the better management of this infection. Objectives: To describe the aetiology, natural history, clinical management and prognostic factors of TF. Methods: TF episodes documented between 2005 and 2018 in 23 South American centres were retrospectively investigated by using a standard clinical form. Molecular identification, antifungal susceptibility testing and biofilm production were also performed. Results: Eighty-eight TF episodes were studied. Patients had several underlying conditions, including haematological diseases (47.7%), post-operative status (34%), solid organ transplants (n = 7, 7.9%), among others. Seventy-three (82.9%) patients had a central venous catheter (CVC) at TF diagnosis. The 30 day mortality rate was 51.1%. Voriconazole-based therapy was given to 34 patients (38.6%), with a 30 day mortality rate of 38.2%. Multivariate predictors of 30 day mortality were age (OR 1.036), mechanical ventilation (OR 8.25) and persistent neutropenia (OR 9.299). CVC removal was associated with over 75% decreased risk of 30 day mortality (OR 0.241). Microbiological analyses revealed that 77.7% of the strains were identified as Trichosporon asahii, and voriconazole showed the strongest in vitro activity against Trichosporon spp. Most of the strains (63%) were considered medium or high biofilm producers. Conclusions: Older age, mechanical ventilation and persistent neutropenia were associated with poor prognosis. CVC may play a role in the pathogenicity of TF and its removal was associated with a better prognosis.

Listeriosis infection is a severe disease, with high morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised patient, especially with disseminated and fatal presentations in cancer patients. A descriptive study was developed to describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics in oncologic patients with listeriosis in the Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas between the years 2005-2015. A total of 29 patients were included; 23 (79.3%) of the listeriosis cases showed up in patients with hematological neoplasia, of which 52.1% was acute lymphatic leukemia and 39.1% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The 72.4% of the isolated species correspond to Listeria monocytogenes. Twenty-seven (93.1%) patients met sepsis criteria and twenty-four (82.7%) had neurologic affection. Bacteremia was the most common presentation, followed by meningoencephalitis (20.6%). Global mortality was 75.8%. In conclusion in cancer patients, listeriosis implies high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the suspicion of this entity is mandatory in onco-hematologic patients with sepsis and acute neurologic symptoms.

Background:Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is an aggressive lymphoma associated mainly to HIV infection, although cases in immunocompetent patients are described as well. Objective:To describe the clinicopathologic features and determine the overall survival of lymphoma patients according human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status in Peruvian patients. Methods:We reviewed the pathology databases of 2 cancer centers and a general hospital from Peru. Forty cases were documented between 2005 and 2020. Categorical variables were compared using Fisher's exact test. Survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. Statistical analysis was based on SPSS Program version 23. All cases were reviewed by two pathologists. Results:32 patients (80%) were HIV-positive. The median age for the whole cohort was 40 years (range, 22-86). The median age for HIV-positive and HIV-negative PBL patients were 37 years (range 22-67 years) and 57 years (range 27-86 years), respectively. The proportion of patients ≥60 years was lower in HIV-positive than in HIV-negative patients (8% and 37%, respectively; p= 0.046). 80% of patients in the whole cohort were female, and 84% and 62% in the HIV-positive and HIV-negative group, respectively. Extra-oral primary sites were the most frequent primary sites in both groups (66% and 88%, respectively). There were no statistically significant differences in Ann Arbor stage, Ki-67 expression, LDH levels, IPI scores, albumin levels, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio between HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients. All cases showed large lymphoid cells, of plasmablastic morphology with expression of at least one plasma cell marker (CD138, CD38, MUM1), CD45 positivity, variable expression of EMA, CD79 and CD30 and absence of expression of CD20, CD3, CD68 and LMP1; the proliferative index Ki67 varied between 60 and 90%. A small proportion of patients (18%) did not receive chemotherapy because of poor performance status or a personal decision. DA-EPOCH regimen was used in 52% and 25% of HIV+ and HIV- patients, respectively and CHOP/CHOEP regimen in 48 % and 75%, respectively. The overall response rate was 68% and 57% in HIV+ and HIV- patients with complete response (CR) in 32% and 14%, respectively. In the HIV-positive group, 66% of patients were antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 38 months and 7 months for HIV+ and HIV- patients, and the 1-year PFS was 74% and 0%, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) was 43 months (range 0.2-86.5) in HIV-positive patients and 10 months (range 0.5-19.0 months) in HIV-negative patients and the 1-year OS were 59% y 38%, respectively (p=0.27). Conclusions: PBL is a rare lymphoma, specially, if not related to HIV infection. In this study, 60 years or older was the only variable that showed significant difference. In our cohort, HIV-positive patients had better prognosis than HIV-negative PBL patients. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem that, due to the clinical variability of its presentation, can be confused with cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical-radiological characteristics and to describe the methodology that allowed to achieve a TB diagnosis in patients referred to the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN) with a presumed diagnosis of cancer between 2014 and 2016. The study included 170 patients (52.4% men) with an average age of 41.1 years; 18% presented a history of contact with TB, and 5.9% had had the disease previously. The TB was pulmonary in 22.4% and extrapulmonary in 77.7% of patients. The most frequent symptoms were respiratory, tumor, weight loss, and neurological. The cancer diagnoses most frequently discarded were lymphoma, lung cancer, and brain cancer. The lesions that suggested a neoplasm indicated an advanced clinical stage in 63.5%. Therefore, it follows that the symptoms and images associated with TB can be confused with malignant neoplasms.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem that, due to the clinical variability of its presentation, can be confused with cancer. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical-radiological characteristics and to describe the methodology that allowed to achieve a TB diagnosis in patients referred to the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases (INEN) with a presumed diagnosis of cancer between 2014 and 2016. The study included 170 patients (52.4% men) with an average age of 41.1 years; 18% presented a history of contact with TB, and 5.9% had had the disease previously. The TB was pulmonary in 22.4% and extrapulmonary in 77.7% of patients. The most frequent symptoms were respiratory, tumor, weight loss, and neurological. The cancer diagnoses most frequently discarded were lymphoma, lung cancer, and brain cancer. The lesions that suggested a neoplasm indicated an advanced clinical stage in 63.5%. Therefore, it follows that the symptoms and images associated with TB can be confused with malignant neoplasms.

OBJECTIVES:To assess the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of active tuberculosis in patients with malignancy and to assess the influence of TB treatment on cancer management at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases from 2008 to 2013.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Observational study of TB cases diagnosed by positive sputum microscopy in patients with cancer. Clinical information, evolution, and pathologic information of neoplasia was reviewed.RESULTS:76 cases of active tuberculosis after being diagnosed with cancer were found. The median age was 51.3 years. Median follow-up was 2.1 years. The most common cancers were acute lymphocytic leukemia (14.5%), for the hematologic cancers; and cancer of the cervix (14.5%), breast (10.5%), and gastric (7.9%) for non-hematological cancers. 27.6% of patients had recurrence of the tumor; TB diagnosis confounded the initial staging by 6.9% and was initially stated as cancer recurrence in 11.1% (breast and colon cancers). The diagnosis of tuberculosis delayed or influenced the dose reduction of the antineoplastic treatment in 11.1% of the cases (acute lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma). 8.3% of patients had toxicity to the TB treatment.CONCLUSIONS:Cancer patients may have active tuberculosis infection. The interference effect of diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis on the assessment of cancer and cancer treatment in our series is minimal.

Objetivos. Evaluar las características clínico-epidemiológicas de la tuberculosis activa en pacientes portadores de neoplasia maligna y evaluar la influencia del tratamiento antituberculoso sobre el manejo de cáncer en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas entre el 2008 y 2013. Materiales y métodos. Estudio observacional de casos de tuberculosis diagnosticados mediante baciloscopía positiva en pacientes con cáncer. Se revisó la información clínica, evolución, e información patológica de la neoplasia. Resultados. Se encontraron 76 casos de tuberculosis activa luego del diagnóstico de cáncer. La mediana de edad fue 51,3 años. La mediana de seguimiento fue 2,1 años. Las neoplasias más frecuentes fueron leucemia linfática aguda (14,5%) para las hematológicas y cáncer de cérvix (14,5%), mama (10,5%) y gástrico (7,9%) para las no hematológicas. El 27,6% de los pacientes presentó recurrencia de la neoplasia; el diagnóstico de tuberculosis confundió el estadiaje inicial en 6,9% y se planteó inicialmente como recurrencia del cáncer en 11,1% (neoplasias de mama y colon). El diagnóstico de tuberculosis retrasó o influyó en la reducción de dosis del tratamiento antineoplásico en 11,1% de los casos (leucemia linfática aguda y linfoma no Hodgkin). El 8,3% de los pacientes presentó toxicidad al tratamiento antituberculoso. Conclusiones. Los pacientes con cáncer pueden presentar infección activa por tuberculosis. El efecto de interferencia del diagnóstico y tratamiento de tuberculosis sobre la evaluación del cáncer y el tratamiento antineoplásico en nuestra serie es mínimo.

We report the results of an International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2007-December 2012 in 503 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the 6-year study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) U.S. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 605,310 patients hospitalized in the INICC's ICUs for an aggregate of 3,338,396 days. Although device utilization in the INICC's ICUs was similar to that reported from ICUs in the U.S. in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals: the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC's ICUs, 4.9 per 1,000 central line days, is nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.9 per 1,000 central line days reported from comparable U.S. ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher (16.8 vs 1.1 per 1,000 ventilator days) as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.5 vs 1.3 per 1,000 catheter days). Frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (42.8% vs 10%) and imipenem (42.4% vs 26.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (71.2% vs 28.8%) and imipenem (19.6% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC's ICUs compared with the ICUs of the CDC's NHSN.

Objective. To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multi-dimensional hand hygiene approach in 19 limited-resource countries and to analyze predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance. Design. An observational, prospective, cohort, interventional, before-and-after study from April 1999 through December 2011. The study was divided into 2 periods: a 3-month baseline period and a 7-year follow-up period. Setting. Ninety-nine intensive care unit (ICU) members of the INICC in Argentina, Brazil, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Greece, India, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, and Turkey. Participants. Healthcare workers at 99 ICU members of the INICC. Methods. A multidimensional hand hygiene approach was used, including (1) administrative support, (2) supplies availability, (3) education and training, (4) reminders in the workplace, (5) process surveillance, and (6) performance feedback. Observations were made for hand hygiene compliance in each ICU, during randomly selected 30-minute periods. Results. A total of 149,727 opportunities for hand hygiene were observed. Overall hand hygiene compliance increased from 48.3% to 71.4% (P < .01). Univariate analysis indicated that several variables were significantly associated with poor hand hygiene compliance, including males versus females (63% vs 70%; P<.001), physicians versus nurses (62% vs 72%; P<.001), and adult versus neonatal ICUs (67% vs 81%; P<.001), among others. Conclusions. Adherence to hand hygiene increased by 48% with the INICC approach. Specific programs directed to improve hand hygiene for variables found to be predictors of poor hand hygiene compliance should be implemented.