Infections in Immunocompromised Flashcards
Opportunistic infections
An infection caused by a microorganism that generally does not cause disease, but does so when lowered resistance is caused by impairment of the body’s immune system.
Pneumocystis
Cryptococcus
Fungal infections
KNOW THESE THREE Pneumoc, cryptoc, fungo
Characteristics of primary immunodeficiencies *
- Often begin in the first days to weeks of life
- Therapeutic response often slow
- Therapy often leads to suppression and not eradication
- Common organisms cause severe manifestation or recurrent infection
- Unusual opportunistic organisms cause infection
- Growth delayed
- multiple infections simultaneously
Within the phagocyte abnormalities category, what is the syndrome which is defined by an absence of neutrophils
Kostmann’s syndrome
What is cyclic neutropenia
phagocyte populations wax and wane
Phagocyte abnormalities such as Kostmann’s syndrome and/or cyclic neutropenia are characterized by what
Recurrent bacterial infections and aspergillus infections.
Makes sense
Defects in phagocyte function
- Defective intracellular bacterial killing
- Defective trafficking and adhesion
Complement deficiency C1-C4 leads to
recurrent bacterial infections and autoimmune
Terminal complement deficiency leads to
Neisseria Sp infection
Management of complement deficiencies
immunizations and prophylactic antibiotics
x linked agammaglobulinemia due to deficiency in
bruton tyrosine kinase
common variable immunodeficiency presents when
age 2-20, typically in early teens, due to variable genetic defects
Most common imunodeficiency
IgA
clinical manifestations of immunoglobulin deficiencies
- recurrent bacterial and viral infections (especially encapsulated organisms like strep pneumo and H flu)
- recurrent sinopulmonary infections or otitis
- Giardiasis
- Some may be associated with autoimmune disorders or increased risk of malignancy
Management of IgG deficiency
replace it
Lymphocytic disorders can represent
Abnormal antigen processing or presentation to T cells
Defects in T cells
Defects in cytokine production or responsiveness
Lymphocytic disorders are generally inherited as autosomal recessive or x-linked
ok…know
Severe combined immunodeficiency
No T cells and Poor B cell function
Di George syndrome
Thymic hypoplasia, hypoparathyroidism, hypocalcemia, heart disease
May develop autoimmune later in life
Wiscott- Aldrich
thrombocytopenia, severe eczema, treateed with stem cell
High risk of malignancy
Categories of Primary Immunodeficiencies
- Innate immunity
includes phagocyte number and function as well as complement - B cell leading to dysfunction in Ig production
- T cell
Phagocyte deficiencies leave pts susceptible to
Catalase positive bacteria/fungi
Complement deficiencies leave pts susceptible to
Neisseria
Antibody deficiency leaves pts susceptoble to
organisms with polysaccharide capsules
Cellular and combined immunodefiiency leaves ppl at risk for
opportunistics, fungi, viruses
