Table 2 Predisposing factors for oral cavity infection in febrile episodes of neutropenic and non- neutropenic patients in radiotherapy, chemotherapy and radio chemotherapy treated cases

Duration of neutropenia >7

4(6.55)  4(4.87)

4(5.06)  44(7.01)

4(4.34)  46(7.22)

    P = 0.72

    P = .71

    P = 0.52

Oral mucositis (grade 0)

3(4.91)  43(3.65)

2(2.53)  44(7.01)

5(5.43)  42(2.40)

    P = 0.70

    P = .23

    P = .44

Oral mucositis (grade 1)

4(6.55)  43(3.65)

3(3.79)  45(8.77)

7(7.60)  46(7.22)

    P = 0.45

    P = 0.27

    P = .84

Oral mucositis (grade 2)

5(8.19)  45(6.09)

4(5.06)  45(8.77)

9(9.78)  44(4.81)

    P = .74

    P = 0.49

    P = .33

Oral mucositis (grade 3)

8(13.11)  48(9.75)

19(24.05)  45(8.77)

11(11.95)  47(8.43)

    P = 0.71

    P = 0.05*

    P = .60

Oral mucositis (grade 4)

9(14.75)  425(30.48)

11(13.92)  413(22.80)

32(34.78)  412(14.45)

    P < .05*

    P =0.26

    P < .001***

Anemia

4(6.55)  43(3.65)

5(6.32)  43(5.26)

5(5.43)  44(4.81)

    P = .45

    P = 1

    P = 1

Central venous line present

6(9.83)  47(8.53)

9(11.39)  47(12.28)

7(7.60)  415(18.07)

    P = .97

    P = .91

    P = .06

Peripheral line present

5(8.19)  43(3.65)

7(8.86)  45(8.77)

4(4.34)  49(10.84)

    P = .28

    P = 77

    P = .17

Community acquired

6(9.83)  417(20.73)

6(7.59)  43(5.26)

3(3.26)  49(10.84)

    P = 0.12

    P = .73

    P = .09

Nosocomial acquired

7(11.47)  44(4.87)

9(11.39)  43(5.26)

5(5.43)  49(10.84)

    P = .20

    P = .34

    P = 0.29