EVALUATION OF THE PATIENT WITH RECURRENT BACTERIAL-INFECTIONS

Recurrent bacterial infection is a complaint encountered regularly in the course of both adult and pediatric care. Defects of neutrophils an d monocytes are most commonly associated with recurrent infection, but abnormalities of immunoglobulins and complement must be considered. D efensins, small antibacterial peptides, have been implicated recently in some of the infectious diathesis of cystic fibrosis. A thorough his tory and physical examination focused on severity, sequelae, and micro biology of infections can usually determine whether a patient needs fu rther evaluation. The diseases and syndromes most frequently associate d with recurrent infection are presented, along with discriminating cl inical, pathologic, and microbiologic features.