Management of infection in oncology patients

the long version

Knowledge of infection management is an essential skill for the effective modern oncologist. Despite major advances in antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral therapeutics, infection has continued to grow as a problem of medical progress through the last five decades and remains with us today. John Wingard and Raleigh Bowden present a comprehensive review of the range of infectious complications that can arise in oncology patients as a result of their malignancy, as well as from the treatment they are undergoing. This text is practical and informative, and management approaches are detailed for each type of infection and the settings in which they occur. In the first section, the effects of different treatment strategies on various host defenses are considered. The approaches to solid tumors and hematologic malignancies differ considerably and are dealt with separately. In the second section, the various infectious syndromes in different scenarios are described. Types of pathogens, shifts over time, and changing differential diagnostic considerations are addressed. In the final section, adjunctive measures that can both prevent as well as assist antimicrobial agents in infection control are discussed. The issues posed by transfusion support are also considered in this section. This book is intended to offer practical advice to clinicians and is aimed at practicing oncologists, hematologists, and infectious disease specialists. The authors have provided a comprehensive resource of practical information and a selective list of key references. Where appropriate, gaps in knowledge have been acknowledged and identified as potential research topics. Book.