Abstract
Diseases of the gastrointestinal system frequently complicate immunosuppressed patients. Endogenous flora is the principal source of infection in humans, especially in patients with dysfunction of the digestive epithelial barrier due to various factors. Bacterial translocation, traumatisms, ischemia and surgery are frequent events in the general population. In addition, important risk factors for abdominal infections in specific patients include tumoral infiltration, mucositis complicating chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, hypoproteinemia, neutropenia and lymphocyte deficiency. Clinical pictures vary according to patients' baseline condition and the environmental setting, including nosocomial infections. The differential clinical characteristics of abdominal infections observed in distinct types of immunosuppressed patients are reviewed.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier España S.L. All rights reserved.
MeSH terms
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Abdomen*
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Antibiotic Prophylaxis
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Bacterial Infections / epidemiology
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Bacterial Infections / etiology
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Bacterial Infections / immunology
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Bacterial Infections / prevention & control
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Bacterial Translocation
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Diarrhea / complications
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Digestive System Diseases / complications
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Disease Susceptibility
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Humans
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Immunocompromised Host*
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Incidence
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Intestines / microbiology
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Mycoses / epidemiology
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Mycoses / etiology
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Mycoses / immunology
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Mycoses / prevention & control
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Neoplasms / complications
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Neoplasms / immunology
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Neutropenia / complications
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Peritonitis / etiology
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Peritonitis / immunology
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Postoperative Complications / etiology
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Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
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Risk
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Soft Tissue Infections / epidemiology
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Soft Tissue Infections / etiology*
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Soft Tissue Infections / immunology
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Soft Tissue Infections / prevention & control
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Virus Diseases / epidemiology
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Virus Diseases / etiology
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Virus Diseases / immunology