Clinical characteristics of respiratory infection in patients with hematologic malignancy and neutropenia

: The aim of the study was a comparative assessment of clinical and laboratory findings characterizing the course of pneumonia or bronchitis in patients with hematological malignancy (HM) and neutropenia. The course of the respiratory infections (RI) was studied in 47 HM patients. RI in HM were found to develop in patients with a large tumor, in bone marrow involvement, in patients without a complete remission, more frequently pneumonia arises in acute leukemia, bronchitis--in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases. Among causative agents Gram-negative and Gram-positive microorganisms were detected at the same rate (44.2 and 45.9%, respectively), fungi were diagnosed in 9.8% cases. Enterobacteriaceae microorganisms were found more often in patients with pneumonia. Gram-positive agents occurred more frequently in bronchitis. Such clinical markers in neutropenic patients as dyspnea, dullness in the lung, weakened respiration, moist rales in the lungs and fever 39 degrees C and higher point to pneumonia. If the above markers are absent but there is cough, fever 38-39 degrees C, tough respiration, dry rales both pneumonia and bronchitis are possible.