Problems of infection after bone marrow transplantation.

Representatives of 17 bone marrow transplant (BMT) teams met to discuss the problems of infection after BMT. With experience of more than 2200 transplanted patients over the past 10 yr, the changes in the patterns of infection were surprisingly similar. Deaths due purely to bacterial infection have greatly diminished and the major early problems today result from fungi and cytomegalovirus. The role of non-herpes group viruses has only recently received attention. With increasing numbers of survivors, late bacterial infections are assuming importance. The meeting also provided an opportunity to document the measures adopted to prevent infection during BMT and following discharge.