Infections associated with bendamustine containing regimens in hematological patients: a retrospective multi-center study

A multi-center retrospective analysis of a cohort of patients in Israel treated with any bendamustine containing regimen between 2010-2014 was performed in order to determine the incidence and predictors for infection. The Kaplan Meier Model, employing log rank analysis, was used to assess time-to-infection. The Cox Proportional Hazards model was used to analyze multivariate effects of risk and 234 patients were included in the analysis. One hundred and nine (46.6%) developed at least one infection and 33.76% had severe infections. Seventy-six (41.5%) developed bacterial infection, nine (3.8%) fungal infection and 26 (11.5%) had viral infections. Factors significantly associated with time to infection on multivariable analysis were: bendamustine-combinations [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.589 (95% CI = 0.374-0.926), p = 0.022], Hb level [HR = 0.791 (95% CI = 0.716-0.875), p < 0.0001] and ischemic heart disease [HR = 1.828 (95% CI = 1.165-2.868), p = 0.009]. Infections were associated with a higher mortality and hospitalization rate.