Management of oral infections in cancer patients

Abstract

The myelosuppressive and mucosal-damaging consequences of cancer and cancer therapies place patients at high risk for developing infectious complications. Bacterial, fungal, and viral infections are all commonly encountered in the oral cavity, contributing to both morbidity and mortality in this patient population. Prevention, early and definitive diagnosis, and appropriate management are critical to ensure optimal treatment outcomes. With the majority of cancer patients treated as outpatients in the community setting, oral health care professionals play an important role in managing such infectious complications of cancer therapy.