Infectious complications in the child undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Infectious complications are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in pediatric and adult patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantion. The incidence and the severity code of infections depend on the function of the host's immune system. This function is strongly correlated to the application of immune suppressive therapy and the speed of immune reconstitution after stem cell transplantation (SCT). The immune reconstitution can be divided into an early, intermediate and a late phase. This article describes the risk of infections during the different phases of immune reconstitution after stem cell transplantation in children. The basic differences between conventional treated oncologic, autologous and allogenic transplanted children will be presented. Beside the risk in the phase of aplasia there should be pointed out that long term immune deficiency is a strong factor for developing a severe infection after SCT.