Herpes simplex and varicella-zoster viruses
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and -2) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) comprise the human α-herpesviruses, a subfamily of enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses defined in part by…
INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Epstein-Barr virus and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a human γ-herpesvirus that is associated with important syndromes in both the immunocompetent and immunocompromised host. It is a ubiquitous virus, as it is found worldwide….
Microbiome implications in transplantation and oncology
At birth, infants become colonized with trillions of commensal microbes that play important roles in health and disease. The majority of these microbes reside in the gastrointestinal tract, reaching densities…
Cytomegalovirus
Viral infections represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among children who have undergone either solid organ (SOT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), as well as in children…
Nontuberculous and tuberculous Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection Epidemiology, risk factors, and pathogenesis Mycobacterium tuberculosis ( MTB) is among the most successful respiratory pathogens worldwide as the majority of those infected are asymptomatic and will…
Bartonella, Legionella, Mycoplasma,and Ureaplasma
Bartonella Epidemiology and risk factors Bartonella species are fastidious, slow-growing, gram-negative bacilli. There are 45 different species that can cause disease in zoonotic hosts, with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella quintana…
Multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections in transplant and oncology patients
Common mechanisms of gram-negative resistance Gram-negative organisms are divided into the Enterobacteriaceae (e.g., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Enterobacter cloacae ) and the glucose nonfermenting gram-negative organisms ( Pseudomonas aeruginosa ,…
Safe living after transplantation or chemotherapy
Prevention of infections by direct contact Children are particularly prone to infections acquired by direct contact. Frequently, children engage in behaviors that place them at risk, such as placing their…
Hospital infection prevention for pediatric transplant recipients and oncology patients
General principles Children with deficient immune mechanisms, immunologic disorders, or those receiving immunosuppressive therapy (e.g., radiation, cytotoxic chemotherapy, antirejection medication, and steroids) are identified as high-risk patients with the greatest…
Antimicrobial stewardship in immunocompromised hosts
Antimicrobial stewardship refers to the appropriate selection, dosing, route, and duration of antimicrobial therapy to optimize patient outcomes and minimize toxicity and the development of resistant pathogens. Over the past…
