title: Infections associated with steroid use.
abstract: Patients receiving chronic steroids have an increased susceptibility to many different types of infections. The risk of infection is related to the dose of steroid and the duration of therapy. Although pyogenic bacteria are the most common pathogens, chronic steroid use increases the risk of infection with intracellular pathogens such as Listeria, many fungi, the herpes viruses, and certain parasites. Clinicians should consider both common and unusual opportunistic infections in patients receiving chronic steroids.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York School of Medicine, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Go
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cunha
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones