Bacterial, fungal and viral infections

Infections occurring in HSC transplanted patients are the result of either the immune suppression given or of a delayed recovery of immunity (granulocytes and/or lymphocytes). The early complications are caused by the fact that during the period of graft take, most leukocytes have not yet been regenerated by the HSC. Because the number of granulocytes is extremely low the patient is at high risk of bacterial infections. Therefore, the patient must be treated prohylactically with antibiotics and remain in a sterile environment.