Respiratory Infections in Immunocompromised Non-Neutropenic Patients

Abstract

Respiratory infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised non-neutropenic patients. For some respiratory infections in this patient group, mortality exceeds 80% (for example, invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in liver transplant recipients) [1]. The incidence of respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients is considerable; 15% of solid-organ transplant recipients and greater than 50% in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection will develop pneumonia [2].