Infection in immunosuppressed patients

The infective complications were studied in a group of 30 immunosuppressed patients with proven derangement of their immune responses. Twenty-four patients had underlying neoplastic diseases and 6 patients non-neoplastic diseases. Twenty patients were under cytotoxic drugs and/or prednisolone, while 14 patients received radiotherapy either alone or in combination with chemotherapy. Seventy-nine individual pathogens were identified during the 59 episodes of infections. Bacteria accounted for more than 75% of the infectious episodes. Gram-negative bacilli were the most frequently encountered pathogens specially during the attacks of pneumonia, while staphylococci (especially coagulase-negative) were the commonest isolated pathogens from blood cultures during attacks of septicaemia. Fungal infections were also not uncommon, being responsible for 25% of the infectious episodes. Candida spp. were the most commonly isolated fungi, responsible for 70% of all deep fungal infections.