New Guidelines Improve Care For Respiratory Infections In Leukemia Patients

People pinch leukemia person a weakened immune strategy owed to nan illness itself and treatment, which leads to an accrued susceptibility to infections. In a revised guideline, experts summarize nan findings of nan past 10 years connected each viruses that origin respiratory infections: How vulnerable are they successful detail? How are they diagnosed? Are hygiene measures necessary? What curen and vaccination strategies are available? Professor Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal from nan Institute for Diversity Medicine astatine Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, is nan lead writer of nan recommendations of nan European Conference connected Infections successful Leukaemia (ECIL) connected nan diagnosis, prevention, and curen of community-acquired respiratory viral infections (CARV), which will beryllium published connected August 27, 2025 successful nan diary The Lancet Infectious Diseases.

Infections are much dangerous

Patients pinch crab of nan humor are peculiarly susceptible to respiratory infections, particularly successful nan early stages of nan illness aliases during and aft highly immunosuppressive therapies, specified arsenic stem compartment transplantation. Many infections that different patient group see trivial are much vulnerable successful this group. Influenza infection, for example, is fatal successful 10 percent of cases, and group besides shed nan microorganism for longer."

Professor Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal, Institute for Diversity Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany

The accrued consequence was besides intelligibly evident pinch SARS-CoV-2, and patients were besides little good protected by vaccinations. Depending connected nan treatment, those affected are peculiarly susceptible to infections for astir a year.

To revise nan guideline, nan squad analyzed existent master lit from 2014 to 2024. Publications connected adenovirus, bocavirus, coronavirus, influenza virus, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and rhinovirus successful patients pinch hematological malignancies (blood cancer, HM) and/or hematopoietic compartment transplantation were included. "In nan existent recommendations, we outline a communal attack for controlling specified infections, for laboratory diagnostics including SARS-CoV-2, arsenic good arsenic circumstantial infection power strategies for respiratory tract infections different than SARS-CoV-2," summarizes Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal.

Vaccines and typical recommendations for young children

Seasonal inactivated vaccines and early antiviral therapy are recommended for influenza microorganism prevention, while experts do not advocator for wide antiviral prophylaxis. For respiratory syncytial microorganism (RSV), approved vaccines whitethorn beryllium considered depending connected section approval, though nan grounds for patients pinch leukemia is limited. Passive immunization pinch Palivizumab aliases Nirsevimab is recommended for children nether 2 years of age, but location are insufficient information connected pre- aliases post-exposure prophylaxis aliases curen for older children aliases big patients. For patients pinch terrible immunodeficiency pursuing a stem compartment transplant, nan line recommends nan management of ribavirin and/or intravenous immunoglobulins.

For different respiratory infections, only supportive measures are disposable to amended immune usability and correct antibody deficiencies. This includes reducing nan management of medications containing cortisone arsenic overmuch arsenic possible. "Evidence gaps beryllium chiefly successful nan areas of immunization and antiviral therapies," says Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal.

Recommendations for treating physicians, relatives, and patients

These recommendations are applicable for everyone treating persons pinch leukemia. Since viral respiratory infections often originate from nan environment, this is applicable not only successful specialized clinics, but besides successful outpatient clinics and superior attraction practices. Family caregivers tin besides use from this information, arsenic tin group pinch leukemia themselves, who usually person specified accusation successful a processed shape from their treating physicians.