Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- Part I Clinical Syndromes – General
- Part II Clinical Syndromes – Head and Neck
- Part III Clinical Syndromes – Eye
- Part IV Clinical Syndromes – Skin and Lymph Nodes
- Part V Clinical Syndromes – Respiratory Tract
- Part VI Clinical Syndromes – Heart and Blood Vessels
- Part VII Clinical Syndromes – Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, and Abdomen
- Part VIII Clinical Syndromes – Genitourinary Tract
- Part IX Clinical Syndromes – Musculoskeletal System
- Part X Clinical Syndromes – Neurologic System
- Part XI The Susceptible Host
- 83 Evaluation of Suspected Immunodeficiency
- 84 Infections in the Neutropenic Patient
- 85 Infections in Patients with Neoplastic Disease
- 86 Corticosteroids, Cytotoxic Agents, and Infection
- 87 Infections in Transplant Patients
- 88 Diabetes and Infection
- 89 Infectious Complications in the Injection Drug User
- 90 Infections in the Alcoholic
- 91 Infections in the Elderly
- 92 Neonatal Infection
- 93 Pregnancy and the Puerperium: Infectious Risks
- 94 Dialysis-Related Infection
- 95 Overwhelming Postsplenectomy Infection
- Part XII HIV
- Part XIII Nosocomial Infection
- Part XIV Infections Related to Surgery and Trauma
- Part XV Prevention of Infection
- Part XVI Travel and Recreation
- Part XVII Bioterrorism
- Part XVIII Specific Organisms – Bacteria
- Part XIX Specific Organisms – Spirochetes
- Part XX Specific Organisms – Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
- Part XXI Specific Organisms – Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma
- Part XXII Specific Organisms – Fungi
- Part XXIII Specific Organisms – Viruses
- Part XXIV Specific Organisms – Parasites
- Part XXV Antimicrobial Therapy – General Considerations
- Index
86 - Corticosteroids, Cytotoxic Agents, and Infection
from Part XI - The Susceptible Host
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 March 2013
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- Part I Clinical Syndromes – General
- Part II Clinical Syndromes – Head and Neck
- Part III Clinical Syndromes – Eye
- Part IV Clinical Syndromes – Skin and Lymph Nodes
- Part V Clinical Syndromes – Respiratory Tract
- Part VI Clinical Syndromes – Heart and Blood Vessels
- Part VII Clinical Syndromes – Gastrointestinal Tract, Liver, and Abdomen
- Part VIII Clinical Syndromes – Genitourinary Tract
- Part IX Clinical Syndromes – Musculoskeletal System
- Part X Clinical Syndromes – Neurologic System
- Part XI The Susceptible Host
- 83 Evaluation of Suspected Immunodeficiency
- 84 Infections in the Neutropenic Patient
- 85 Infections in Patients with Neoplastic Disease
- 86 Corticosteroids, Cytotoxic Agents, and Infection
- 87 Infections in Transplant Patients
- 88 Diabetes and Infection
- 89 Infectious Complications in the Injection Drug User
- 90 Infections in the Alcoholic
- 91 Infections in the Elderly
- 92 Neonatal Infection
- 93 Pregnancy and the Puerperium: Infectious Risks
- 94 Dialysis-Related Infection
- 95 Overwhelming Postsplenectomy Infection
- Part XII HIV
- Part XIII Nosocomial Infection
- Part XIV Infections Related to Surgery and Trauma
- Part XV Prevention of Infection
- Part XVI Travel and Recreation
- Part XVII Bioterrorism
- Part XVIII Specific Organisms – Bacteria
- Part XIX Specific Organisms – Spirochetes
- Part XX Specific Organisms – Mycoplasma and Chlamydia
- Part XXI Specific Organisms – Rickettsia, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasma
- Part XXII Specific Organisms – Fungi
- Part XXIII Specific Organisms – Viruses
- Part XXIV Specific Organisms – Parasites
- Part XXV Antimicrobial Therapy – General Considerations
- Index
Summary
Iatrogenic immunosuppression can be achieved using corticosteroids or noncorticosteroid a gents. Although there is considerable overlap, noncorticosteroid immunosuppressants can be broadly divided into those that are primarily cytotoxic antineoplastic drugs and those that are used primarily in transplantation. Advances in immunosuppressive therapy have greatly decreased morbidity and mortality attributable to transplantation rejection and autoimmune diseases, but the cellular targets of immunosuppressive agents are frequently the cornerstones of the body's defenses against pathogenic microorganisms. As a result of this double-edged action, the use of immunosuppressants involves walking a fine line between therapy and iatrogenic harm. Indeed, with the advent of powerful immunosuppressive agents, there has been an emergence of a wider spectrum of infections.
The specific type of agent, the dosage used, the length of therapy, and the underlying disease process all affect the incidence and type of infectious complication likely to occur with immunosuppressive therapy. Understanding the mechanism of action of these agents will aid in determining the appropriate immunization/prophylaxis, and in choosing the appropriate empiric therapy in patients with signs of infection.
CORTICOSTEROIDS
Mechanisms of Action
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents capable of quantitative and qualitative suppression of the immune system. In the case of an overaggressive immune response to antigenic stimuli, corticosteroids may benefit patients by decreasing the inflammatory response.
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- Information
- Clinical Infectious Disease , pp. 605 - 610Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2008
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