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Viral Infections in Critically Ill Cancer Patients

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Oncologic Critical Care

Abstract

A variety of viral infections have been described as a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among all patient populations, but particularly in critically ill patients that require intensive medical care. Many of these viruses have serious outcomes in the setting of immunosuppression and chronic underlying medical disease. The herpesviruses, herpes simplex and varicella-zoster, are highly prevalent, lifelong infectious agents and commonly manifest with skin lesions in the immunocompetent host but can reactivate and involve the central nervous system in immunocompromised patients. Another widely spread member of the Herpesviridae family, Cytomegalovirus, has been studied in immunocompromised populations including stem cell and solid organ transplant recipients, in which it can cause tissue-invasive disease, particularly targeting the gastrointestinal tract and transplanted organs. Influenza virus is relevant for its public health implications and seasonality, leading to intensive vaccination efforts on a yearly basis aimed to protect susceptible populations such as the elderly and immunocompromised. In a similar fashion, respiratory syncytial virus can cause significant morbidity in patients with leukemia and recipients of bone marrow and solid organ transplants. Unlike influenza, there is no vaccine against RSV, and antiviral therapy is limited, highlighting the importance of implementing infection control measures to prevent spread of the virus. Other less frequently encountered agents such as Zika and Ebola will also be discussed given their high morbidity and mortality.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. McGovern Medical School, University of Texas at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Gabriela Corsi-Vasquez

  2. Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA

    Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner

Authors
  1. Gabriela Corsi-Vasquez
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  2. Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luis Ostrosky-Zeichner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care and Respiratory Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Joseph L. Nates

  2. Division of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Department of Critical Care and Respiratory Care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Kristen J. Price

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Corsi-Vasquez, G., Ostrosky-Zeichner, L. (2020). Viral Infections in Critically Ill Cancer Patients. In: Nates, J., Price, K. (eds) Oncologic Critical Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74588-6_122

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-74588-6_122

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