Sepsis in head and neck cancer patients treated with chemotherapy and radiation: Literature review and consensus

• A multidisciplinary group of head and neck cancer (HNC) specialists met with the aim of reaching a consensus on the management of infections and sepsis.
• The Delphi Appropriateness Method was used for this consensus.
• External expert reviewers evaluated the conclusions according to their area of expertise.
• The paper contains statements about the management of septic HNC patients, which had a consensus.
• The paper offers a review of recent literature in these topics.

The reporting of infection/sepsis in chemo/radiation-treated head and neck cancer patients is sparse and the problem is underestimated. A multidisciplinary group of head and neck cancer specialists from Italy met with the aim of reaching a consensus on a clinical definition and management of infections and sepsis. The Delphi appropriateness method was used for this consensus. External expert reviewers then evaluated the conclusions carefully according to their area of expertise. The paper contains seven clusters of statements about the clinical definition and management of infections and sepsis in head and neck cancer patients, which had a consensus. Furthermore, it offers a review of recent literature in these topics.