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Updated: Aug 24, 2025
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Design of Cecal Ligation and Puncture and Intranasal Infection Dual Model of Sepsis-Induced Immunosuppression
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Polymicrobial Infections in the Immunocompromised Host: The COVID-19 Realm and Beyond
Eibhlin Higgins1, Aanchal Gupta1, Nathan W Cummins1
1Division of Public Health, Infectious Diseases and Occupational Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA.
Medical Sciences (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 24, 2022
Summary
Immunosuppression alters infection risk and presentation. In transplant patients, complex interactions between multiple pathogens can lead to severe polymicrobial infections and unique clinical syndromes.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Immunosuppression significantly impacts host susceptibility and clinical presentation of infections.
- Co-infections with unrelated pathogens can alter host immune responses.
- Understanding these interactions is critical, especially during pandemics like COVID-19.
Observation:
- Three cases of transplant recipients with polymicrobial infections are presented.
- These cases illustrate complex host-pathogen dynamics.
- The clinical syndromes resulting from these infections are highlighted.
Findings:
- Polymicrobial infections in immunosuppressed transplant recipients present unique challenges.
- Host-pathogen interactions are intricate and can lead to severe outcomes.
- Specific clinical syndromes arise from these complex infections.
Implications:
- These cases underscore the need for vigilant monitoring and tailored treatment strategies in transplant patients.
- Further research into host-pathogen interactions in immunosuppressed individuals is warranted.
- Improved understanding can enhance clinical management and patient outcomes in transplantation.
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