ABSTRACT
Immunodeficient cancer patients carry a substantial risk for serious viral disease. Both the underlying malignancy and the various cancer treatment modalities contribute to the immunosuppression that predisposes to viral reactivation and to more severe primary infection or reinfection (1). In addition, the transfusion of blood products, which is a frequent requirement in patients with neoplastic disorders, and the use of allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplant (PBSCT) increase the risk for transmission of viral agents (2-4). Patients who are particularly susceptible to diseases caused by viruses include those receiving treatment for leukemia or lymphoma and the recipients of allogeneic or autologous BMT and PBSCT (5-11).
