Infectious complications of neoplastic disease.

Progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of infection in patients with neoplastic disease. Among the advances is the appreciation that certain opportunistic infections occur in association with particular host immune defects and epidemiologic factors. Such immune defects are seen secondary to or as a consequence of treatment for the patient's basic disease. Improved methods such as serology, open lung biopsy, and fiberoptic bronchoscopy have allowed for earlier diagnosis and treatment of opportunistic infections. The development of empiric antibiotic regimens, particularly aminoglycosides and the antipseudomonal penicillins, have improved the outcome in the febrile neutropenic patient. The benefits of protective environments have been challenged; prophylactic antibiotics and various forms of immunotherapy are of interest but remain investigational.