Infections in Patients With Hematologic Malignancies

The clinical approach to patients with hematologic malignancies and infection requires definition of several patient factors (immunologic competence [or defect], residential environment, and the syndrome), infection factors (its type, location, progress, and pathogen), and treatment factors (medical or surgical or both). Management of patients with hematologic malignancies and infection requires knowledge of general infectious diseases and factors pertaining to the hematologic malignancy, pathophysiology of the hematologic malignancy, types of antineoplastic chemotherapy used in treatment, and immunologic effects of both the malignancy and the associated chemotherapy, and complications and toxicities of both the malignancy and the associated chemotherapy. Diagnosis and treatment of specific infections are reviewed.