title: Respiratory tract infections in the immunocompromised.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pulmonary infections are particularly common in the immunosuppressed host. This review discusses emerging threats, newer modalities of diagnostic tests and emerging treatment options, and also highlights the increasing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nosocomial pneumonia is increasingly due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms in immunosuppressed patients. Viral pneumonias remain a very significant threat, present atypically and carry a high mortality. Aspergillosis remains the most common fungal infection, and infections due to Mucorales are increasing. Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is on the increase throughout the world. Mixed infections are common and early bronchoscopy with appropriate microbiological tests, including molecular diagnostics, optimise management and reduce mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pulmonary infection remains the most frequent infectious complication in the immunocompromised host. These complex infections are often mixed, have atypical presentations and can be due to multidrug-resistant organisms. Multidisciplinary involvement in specialist centres with appropriate diagnostics, treatment and infection control improves outcome. There is a desperate need for new antimicrobial agents active against Gram-negative pathogens.
authors.affiliation: UCLH Hospitals NHS Foundation, UK.
authors.forename: Gauri
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Godbole
authors.forename: Vanya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gant
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents