Opportunistic bacterial, viral and fungal infections of the lung

Respiratory opportunistic infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in severely immunocompromised patients, such as those treated with biological therapies, chemotherapy and solid organ or stem cell transplants, and those with haematological malignancy, aplastic anaemia or HIV infection. The type and degree of immune defect dictates the profile of potential opportunistic pathogens; T-cell-mediated defects increase the risk of viral (cytomegalovirus, respiratory viruses) and Pneumocystis jirovecii infections, whereas neutrophil defects are associated with bacterial pneumonia and invasive aspergillosis.

Source: Medicine - October 3, 2023 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Katharine M. Pates, Jimstan N. Periselneris, Jeremy S. Brown Tags: Pulmonary infection Source Type: research