Infectious complications in hematology

Abstract

Infectious complications in patients with hematologic malignancies represent one of the most serious problem. This paper reviews the epidemiology of bacterial, fungal and viral infections in hematological patients receiving chemotherapy or undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation. The principles of diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious complications based on the recommendations of international societies and expert groups are discussed with particular emphasis on the guidelines of the European Conference on Infections in Leukemia, the Infectious Disease Society of America and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.