title: Evaluation of the patient with recurrent bacterial infections.
abstract: Recurrent bacterial infection is a complaint encountered regularly in the course of both adult and pediatric care. Defects of neutrophils and monocytes are most commonly associated with recurrent infection, but abnormalities of immunoglobulins and complement must be considered. Defensins, small antibacterial peptides, have been implicated recently in some of the infectious diathesis of cystic fibrosis. A thorough history and physical examination focused on severity, sequelae, and microbiology of infections can usually determine whether a patient needs further evaluation. The diseases and syndromes most frequently associated with recurrent infection are presented, along with discriminating clinical, pathologic, and microbiologic features.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. smh@nih.gov
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Gallin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity / Q000502:physiology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D023082:Defensins; D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000276:immunology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009000:Monocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D010808:Physical Examination; D012008:Recurrence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D023082:Defensins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins