[Nosocomial infections in neutropenic patients].

Neutropenia is the most important predisposing factor for bacterial infection in immunocompromised hosts. It is mostly associated with mucosal damage as a consequence of chemotherapy. Nearly 50 p. 100 of infections occurring in neutropenic patients are acquired in the hospital. Colonization precedes infection in 80 p. 100 of the cases. The sources of colonization are ubiquitous and include water, air, food and medical personnel while gut colonization is more often responsible for infection than in normal patients. Fungal infection also emerges as an increasing problem in haematology. The use of gut sterilization and of sophisticated protected environments has decreased the frequency and mortality of infection in high risk patients.