PREVENTION OF INFECTION IN IMMUNOCOMPROMISED PATIENTS

Infections still cause considerable morbidity and mortality in immunoc ompromised patients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis remains an important pa rt of the preventive strategy. The use of systemic fluoroquinolones ha s proved to be more effective than other regimens in preventing gram-n egative infections, although infections due to gram-positive cocci are still a problem. Candida albicans infections can be controlled by the use of new triazoles; however, an increased colonization by resistant fungi can occur. During recent years, further studies on the prophyla ctic use of antiviral agents have been designed to provide guidelines for the management of patients positive for cytomegalovirus with bone marrow transplants. Results of the use of varicella vaccine in childre n with leukemia and other types of cancer support the conclusions of p revious studies that this vaccine is safe and reduces the incidence of severe varicella-zoster infections in such children.