[Septicemia against a background of immunodeficiency]

Macroscopic diagnosis of septicemia at autopsy is extremely difficult to make in cases where relevant diagnostic cues, notably changes in the spleen characteristic for sepsis are lacking. Histologic, bacterioscopic, immunomorphologic, fluorescence electron-microscopic studies of autopsy material are described which, in combination, enabled the authors to establish pathologic diagnosis of septicemia, identify its etiology, and characterize the immune status.