An Overview of Selected Bacterial Infections in Cancer, Their Virulence Factors, and Some Aspects of Infection Management

Abstract

In cancer development and its clinical course, bacteria can be involved in etiology and secondary infection. Regarding etiology, various epidemiological studies have revealed that Helicobacter pylori can directly impact gastric carcinogenesis. The Helicobacter pylori-associated virulence factor cytotoxin-associated gene A perhaps plays an important role through different mechanisms such as aberrant DNA methylation, activation of nuclear factor kappa B, and modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Many other bacteria, including Salmonella and Pseudomonas, can also affect Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Although Helicobacter pylori is involved in both gastric adenocarcinoma and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, its role in the latter disease is more complicated. Among other bacterial species, Chlamydia is linked with a diverse range of diseases including cancers of different sites. The cellular organizations of Chlamydia are highly complex. Interestingly, Escherichia coli is believed to be associated with colon cancer development. Microorganisms such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are frequently isolated from secondary infections in cancer patients. In these patients, the common sites of infection are the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary tracts. There is an alarming rise in infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria and the scarcity of suitable antimicrobial agents adversely influences prognosis. Therefore, effective implementation of antimicrobial stewardship strategies is important in cancer patients.