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Abstract
Superinfection in the compromised host often poses a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma
for the physician who is concerned that a perplexing array of microorganisms might
be involved. We believe that the differential diagnosis list can often be narrowed
considerably by separating superinfection in the compromised host into five convenient
categories: (1) infections due to the underlying disease itself; (2) infections due
to the underlying disease plus therapy for that disease; (3) infections due solely
to medicaments, operations, or procedures; (4) infections increased in severity but
probably not in incidence; and (5) societally related infections.
Use of this or a similar categorization should result in a more rational approach
to differential diagnosis, should encourage a more focused diagnostic work-up, should
reduce the necessity for invasive procedures, should provide the microbiology laboratory
information about specific organisms that should be sought sedulously, and should
permit the selection of a more rational antimicrobial regimen prior to the availability
of definitive microbiologic information.
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Article Info
Publication History
Accepted:
April 26,
1982
Identification
Copyright
© 1982 Published by Elsevier Inc.