The Immunocompromised Host Flashcards
What is meant by immunocompromisation?
State in which the immune system is unable to respond appropriately and effectively in infectious microorganisms
What is immnocompromisation due to?
A defect in one or more components of the immune system
What can infections suggest?
An underlying immune deficiency
When can infections suggest an underlying immune deficiency?
If they meet the criteria of SPUR
What is in the SPUR criteria?
Severe
Persistent
Unusual
Recurrent
What is considered to be a severe infection?
Life threatening
What is considered to be a persistent infection?
Minimal response to standard treatment
What factors may be considered unusual in an infection?
Site
Type of microbe
What site might be considered unusual in an infection?
Deep tissue
What type of microbe may be considered unusual in an infection?
Opportunistic infection
What is meant by a recurrent infection?
Returns regularly after treatment
What are the types of immunodeficiency?
Primary
Secondary
What kind of conditions are primary immunodeficiencies?
Congenital
What are primary immune deficiencies due to?
Intrinsic cell defect
How many intrinsic cell defects are there causing primary immunodeficiencies?
~275 genes
What can intrinsic cell defects lead to in primary immune deficiencies?
Missing protein
Missing cell
Non-functional components
What kind of conditions are secondary immunodeficiencies?
Acquired
What are secondary immune deficiencies due to?
Underlying disease/treatment leading to ;
Decreased production/function of immune components
Increased loss or catabolism of immune components
Do primary immune deficiencies affect the innate or adaptive immune system?
Can be either
What conditions have a decreased production of immune components as a result of a secondary immune deficiency?
Malnutrition Infection (HIV) Liver diseases Lymphoproliferative diseases Splenectomy
What are the functions of the spleen?
Sensing blood borne pathogens
Producing antibodies
Removal of opsonized microbes and immune complexes
What blood borne pathogens does the spleen especially sense?
Encapsulated bacteria
What antibodies does the spleen produce?
IgM
IgG
When does the spleen produce IgM?
Acute response
When does the spleen produce IgG?
Long term response
How does the spleen remove opsonised microbes and immune complexes?
By splenic macrophages
How does someone with a splenectomy present?
Increased susceptibility to encapsulated bacteria
Overwhelming post-splenectomy infection
What bacteria are asplenic people susceptible to?
Haemophilus influenzae
Streptococcus pneumoiae
Neisseria meningitidis
What is the risk of death from post-splenectomy infection?
1-2% risk of death from overwhelming sepsis/meningitis over 15 years
How is a person with a splenectomy managed?
Lifelong penicillin prophylaxis
Immunisation against encapsulated bacteria
Medic alert bracelet
What can an increased susceptibility to infections in haematological malignancies be due to?
Chemotherapy induced neutropenia
Chemotherapy induced damage to mucosal surfaces
Vascular catheters penetrating innate immune barriers
How should a suspected neutropenia sepsis be treated?
As an acute medical emergency, with empiric antibiotics
Assess a patients risk of septic complications
What can an increased loss or catabolism of immune components be due to?
Protein losing conditions
Burns
Give two protein losing conditions
Nephropathy
Enteropathy
What gives the large spectrum of primary immune deficiencies (PIDs)?
Different clinical phenotypes
How many PIDs are there?
> 300
What is needed regarding PIDs?
Better diagnostic criteria
Why is a better diagnostic criteria needed for PIDs?
General failure to recognise and diagnose PIDs
When are most PIDs diagnosed?
~8-12 years from onset of symptoms
What % of patients will be 18 years old + when diagnosis is made?
> 60%
What % of patients will have permanent tissue/organ damage by the time a diagnosis is made?
37%
What can help recognise PIDs?
The 10 warning signs
What are the 10 warning signs of PID for children?
4 or more new ear infections within 1 year
2 or more serious sinus infections within 1 year
2 or more months on antibiotics with little effect
2 or more pneumonias within 1 year
Failure of an infant to gain weight or grow normally
Recurrent, deep skin or organ abscesses
Persistent thrush in mouth, or fungal infections on skin
Need for intravenous antibiotics to clear infections
Two or more deep-seated infections including septicaemia
A family history of PID