Antibiotics in palliative medicine—results from a prospective epidemiological investigation from the HOPE survey

Background Patients with advanced cancer are highly susceptible to infections. The decision whether to treat an active or suspected infection or to withhold or withdraw an antibiotic treatment in end-of-life care may be difficult. In order to quantify the antimicrobial prescribing practices and decision-making processes in palliative care units in Germany, a survey was performed as part of the Hospice and Palliative Evaluation in 2006.