EFFECT OF CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE ON EXPERIMENTAL STAPHYLOCOCCUS INFECTION IN RAT

A COMMON drawback associated with the use of antineoplastic and immunosuppressive drugs is an increased susceptibility to infection1-4. This can be attributed, at least in part, to leucopenia5,6, hypogammaglobulinaemia7 and impairments of the normal processes of phagocytosis8 and the primary antibody response9-11. It was recently demonstrated that the antineoplastic agent cyclophosphamide depresses the production of interferon12 and causes higher peak titres of EMC virus in the mouse13, thus producing a striking increase in mortality. We now report that treatment of rats with Cyclophosphamide produces a rapidly increasing bacteriaemia together with significant bacterial proliferation within various organs following experimental infection with Staphylococcus aureus. © 1969 Nature Publishing Group.