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factors predisposing to infection
Risk factors predisposing to patients
1) neutropenia:
- especially lymphoma patients after chemotherapy
2) altered cellular immunity
3) humoral immunity dysfunction
4) alteration in local defenses
a) breakdown of skin
1] trauma
2] vasculitis
3] malignancy: head & neck (squamous cell carcinoma)
4] bacterial pathogens
a] Staphylococcus aureus
b] Streptococcus pyogenes
c] Pseudomonas aeruginosa (burns)
b) compromise in mucosal barrier (mucositis)
- Streptococcus mitis
c) occlusion of orifices: ureters, bile duct, colon
1] malignancy: renal, ovarian, biliary, metastatic
2] urinary tract infections & septicemia
3] gram negative bacteria
d) lymph node dissection
-> cellulitis due to Staphylococcus & Streptococcus
5) splenectomy
6) indwelling devices
a) endotracheal tube
b) central venous catheter
c) foley catheter
7) metabolic acidosis
a) associated conditions
1] diabetes mellitus
2] acute myelocytic leukemia
b) common pathogens
1] bacteria
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (malignant external otitis)
2] fungi: Zygomycetes (mucormycosis)
8) hyperalimentation
a) associated conditions
1] trauma
2] abdominal surgery
b) common pathogens
1] bacteria
a] coagulase-negative Staphylococcus
b] Staphylococcus aureus
2] fungi
a] Candida
b] Malassezia furfur
9) intravenous drug abuse
10) cirrhosis of the liver
Related
cirrhosis
immunodeficiency; immunodeficiency syndrome
intravenous drug abuse (IVDA, injection drug use, IDU)
neutropenia
splenectomy
Specific
susceptibility to mycobacterial disease
General
predisposition (susceptibility)
References
- Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American
College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed.
Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 537