Short summary

The study will investigate the risk of a diagnosis of colorectal cancer following bacteraemia with anaerobic bacteria. This is to see if bacteraemia can be used as a biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Rationale

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and every year more than 5000 people are diagnosed with this disease in Denmark. The current Danish colorectal cancer screening program uses the presence of faecal occult blood as an indicator for colorectal cancer. We have established an association between bacteraemia (blood poisoning) with specific gut bacteria and the subsequent diagnosis of colorectal cancer. In this study, we will expand our investigation using complete and newer national data on colorectal cancer and bacteraemia.

Description of the cohort

All patients with anaerobic bacteraemia form the period 2010 to and including 2020 (estimated 10.000 to 15.000 patients) will be included with a control group consisting of approximately 50.000 from the same period with E. coli bacteraemia. The data will be combined with data on colorectal cancer.

Data and biological material

Data will be supplied from MiBa (the national Danish Microbiology Database) on bacteraemia with specific anaerobic bacteria from blood cultures, including the date of the blood culture and the specific patient identification number (CPR number). Data will be combined with data for the Danish Colorectal Cancer database Group (DCCG). Also data on vital status will be included.

Collaborating researchers and departments

Center for Clinical Epidemiology, Odense University Hospital

• Kim Oren Gradel

Department of Surgery, Odense University Hospital

• Niels Qvist
• Mark Bremholm Ellebæk