Pneumonia in immunocompromised host

Alternative names

Pneumonia in immunodeficient patient

Definition

Pneumonia in an immunocompromised host describes a lung infection that occurs in a person whose infection-fighting mechanisms are significantly impaired.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

People who are immunocompromised have a defective immune response. Because of this, they are susceptible to infections by microorganisms that are present everywhere, but do not normally cause disease in healthy people. They are also more susceptible to the usual causes of pneumonia, which can affect anyone.

Immunosuppression can be caused by HIV infection, Leukemia, organ transplantation, bone marrow transplant, and medications to treat cancer.

Symptoms

• cough
  o nonproductive (dry cough) or with mucus-like, greenish, or pus-like sputum
  
• chills with shaking
  
• fever
  
• easy fatigue
  
• chest pain
  o sharp or stabbing
  o increased by deep breathing
  o increased by coughing
  
• headache
  
• loss of appetite
  
• nausea and Vomiting
  
• general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
  
• Shortness of breath Additional symptoms that may occur:
  o joint stiffness (rare)
  o muscular stiffness (rare)
  o swollen glands
  o excessive sweating or night sweats
  

Signs and tests

Crackles or other abnormal breath sounds may be heard when listening to the chest with stethoscope (auscultation). Lack of breath sounds can be an important sign.

Tests include:

• Chest x-ray
  
• sputum gram stain, other special stains, and culture
  
• CBC
  
• arterial blood gases
  
• bronchoscopy
  
• chest CT scan, in certain cases