title: Opportunistic Pulmonary Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts.
abstract: Infections that are typically innocuous in immunocompetent persons may cause significant disease states in immunocompromised hosts. These individuals may be immunosuppressed secondary to many different causes such as drugs, malignancy, solid-organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, HIV/AIDS, or anatomic reasons (asplenia). These immunocompromised hosts are at high risk for developing opportunistic infections. Here, we discuss some of these infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Clinicians should be aware of the risk factors, common clinical presentations, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options for these potentially fatal illnesses.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Pulmonary Critical Care (Drs Rali and Singh), Internal Medicine (Drs Veer and Gupta), and Infectious Disease (Dr Bhanot), Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Parth
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rali
authors.forename: Manik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Veer
authors.forename: Nupur
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Anil C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Nitin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhanot
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000175:diagnosis; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012307:Risk Factors