Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease is a risk factor for post-engraftment blood stream infection in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Blood stream infection (BSI) is a common complication in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and can be fatal without appropriate and expedient treatment, especially in the pre-engraftment period [1 –3]. Intensive chemotherapy and irradiation allows bacteria to enter the systemic circulation via disrupted mucosal barriers of the gastrointestinal (GI)-tract and/or oral cavity, providing an inflammatory cytokine milieu fit for T-cell proliferation and activation, This culminates in the developm ent of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) after the engraftment of donor cells [4].

Source: Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation - June 15, 2018 Category: Hematology Authors: Yasuo Mori, Goichi Yoshimoto, Ruriko Nishida, Takeshi Sugio, Kohta Miyawaki, Takahiro Shima, Yoji Nagasaki, Noriko Miyake, Yukiko Harada, Yuya Kunisaki, Kenjiro Kamezaki, Akihiko Numata, Koji Kato, Motoaki Shiratsuchi, Takahiro Maeda, Katsuto Takenaka, Hi Source Type: research