[Treatment of infections in the critically ill under immunosuppression : What must be considered?]

Patients under immunosuppressive treatment have a much higher risk for severe infections and sepsis. The morbidity and mortality of severe infections in critically ill patients are high but the prognosis is not different from immunocompetent patients if diagnosed early and treated adequately, especially in high volume centers. A high level of clinical alertness for infectious complications is essential for rapid and adequate diagnosis and treatment. The established principles for treatment of sepsis are also valid for immunocompromized patients, i.e. rapid initiation of antibiotic treatment, focal control and rapid supportive treatment according to the current guidelines on sepsis. In patients with the corresponding clinical signs and not responding to initial empirical treatment, opportunistic infections as rare causes of sepsis have to be taken into account. To prevent development or selection of resistance due to broad spectrum treatment, the empirical treatment should always focus on the specific pathogen detected.