Fever in immunocompromised patient

DDx

Neutropenia

  • Gram-negative enteric organisms
  • Pseudomonas
  • Gram-positive cocci, eg, S. aureus, S. epidermidis
  • Candida
  • Aspergillus and other fungi
Cellular immune defect (HIV, lymphoma, immunosuppressive drugs)
  • Bacteria: Listeria, Legionella, Salmonella, Mycobacterium
  • Viruses: herpes simplex virus, varicella, cytomegalovirus
  • Fungi: Cryptococcus, Coccidioides, Histoplasma, Pneumocystis
  • Protozoa: Toxoplasma
Humoral immune defect (congenital, multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia)
  • Encapsulated organisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis
Asplenia (functional or anatomic)
  • Encapsulated organisms: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis
Noninfectious causes
  • Transplant rejection
  • Organ ischemia or necrosis
  • Thrombophlebitis
  • Lymphoma

See related DDx

Last updated: December 1, 2014