J Pediatr Intensive Care 2014; 03(03): 115-132
DOI: 10.3233/PIC-14093
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

A review of pathogens causing lower respiratory tract infection in the pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient

Matt S. Zinter
a   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
c   Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
,
Emily R. Levy
b   Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco - School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
c   Department of Pediatrics, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital, San Francisco, CA, USA
,
Shira J. Gertz
d   Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Joseph M Sanzari Children's Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ, USA
› Author Affiliations

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

05 July 2014

12 September 2014

Publication Date:
28 July 2015 (online)

Abstract

Pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients are at risk for acquiring a variety of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI), which result in frequent pediatric intensive care unit admission with high mortality. Recent advances in conditioning regimens, opportunistic infection prophylaxis, diagnostic tools, and treatment modalities have broadly impacted our understanding of LRTI among these vulnerable patients. In this review, the most common bacteria, viruses, and fungi causing LRTI in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients are discussed.