Infections in patients with malignant lymphomas

Malignant lymphomas are among the most common hematologic malignancies in man and are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Infections in patients with malignant lymphomas are relatively frequent as a result of multiple immunologic deficits caused by the underlying malignancy and various treatment modalities. The spectrum of infection in this group of patients is much broader than in patients in whom neutropenia is the predominant predisposing factor, with bacterial, mycobacterial, fungal, viral and parasitic organisms – all being important. A specific diagnosis of infection is sometimes difficult to establish. On the other hand, multiple infections may be present in the same patient as the same time, or may follow each other sequentially. Consequently, infection prevention strategies play an important role in these patients.