Infectious Esophagitis

Infectious esophagitis can have significant implications in an impaired host. Described most commonly in immunocompromised patients, infectious esophagitis can also occasionally be discovered in immunocompetent individuals in several unique clinical settings. Evaluation of the typical presenting complaints, such as dysphagia or odynophagia, are especially important in immunocompetent patients, and therapy should be directed at the appropriate predisposing condition and resultant infectious agent. In immunocompromised patients, however, clinical experience supports the use of empiric therapy in patients without concomitant systemic complaints. Especially in AIDS patients or those with lymphoma or leukemia, the initial approach to infectious esophagitis complaints (ie, dysphagia or odynophagia) is to begin an empiric trial of oral systemic fluconazole for presumed candidal esophagitis. If the individual remains symptomatic after 3 to 7 days or has any associated systemic complaints or concerning clinical findings (eg, hematemesis), then upper endoscopy with biopsies is indicated. If an etiologic agent other than Candida is defined by histologic, immunohistochemical, or culture methods, then appropriate therapy can be initiated. There are many important and pathologic agents implicated in infectious esophagitis. Thus, directed therapy needs to be administered appropriately and in a timely fashion to avoid poor short-term problems or long-term sequelae.