We collected data on other variables that may affect
adherence to the planned chemotherapy protocol,
including socio-demographic factors, background conditions
including the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI),9
data on the primary malignancy and its stage, cytopenias,
other infections, influenza and pneumococcal vaccination
and technical factors. We categorized immunesuppression
as primarily cellular (post-engraftment allogeneic
hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT),
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma
(MM) treated with novel agents) or related to neutropenia
post chemotherapy (solid malignancies, lymphoma and
acute leukemia). Patients were assigned to a socioeconomic
cluster according to their address.10 Performance
status was classified using the ECOG classification.