The histopathological diagnosis of infectious diseases has definite and
inevitable roles not only in identifying the appropriate treatment for
the infected patient but also in protecting society from unnecessary risks
of pathogen transmission and from exposure to biohazards. The potential
for opportunistic infection has been increasing, in response to the gradual
increase of aged and immunocompromised patients. Globalization of the world
has promoted importation of non-domestic infectious diseases. This article
reviews the following points. These include 1)the modes of defense mechanisms
against pathogens(neutrophils vs. T-lymphocytes vs. antibodies), 2)epidemiologic
aspects of opportunistic infection, including intrinsic, exogenous and
imported routes of infection, 3)histopathological features of bacterial
pneumonia, 4)immunohistochemical demonstration of pathogens on routine
paraffin sections, using commercially available antibodies or patient sera,
5)opportunistic infection in immunosuppressive states, such as AIDS, hematopoietic
stem cell transplantation and other special conditions, and 6)the pathologists'
function in the prevention of nosocomial(hospital-acquired) infection with
MRSA and tuberculous bacilli. Pathologists must realize the importance
of correct and prompt histopathological diagnosis of a wide variety of
infectious diseases in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients.
[Rinsho Byori 50 : 649～657, 2002]
*Department of Pathology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake 470-1192
【Key Words】opportunistic infection(日和見感染症)，histopathological diagnosis(病理診断)，immunohis-tochemistry(免疫組織化学)，AIDS(エイズ)，nosocomial infection(院内感染)
*藤田保健衛生大学医学部第一病理学講座(〒470-1192 豊明市沓掛町田楽ヶ窪1-98)
本論文は第48回日本臨床検査医学会総会 教育講演 5をReviewとして掲載した。
E-mail :tsutsumi@fujita-hu.ac.jp