Viral Infections in Immunocompromised Patients
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817). This special issue belongs to the section "Viral Pathogens".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 3
Special Issue Editor
Interests: viral infection; transplant recipients; cancer patients; autoimmune diseases; immunosuppressive therapy; hereditary immunodeficiencies; viral epidemiological surveillance; morbidity and mortality
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Viral infections in immunocompromised patients represent a major clinical challenge due to impaired cellular and humoral immunity, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. High-risk populations include transplant recipients, chemotherapy patients, individuals with autoimmune diseases on immunosuppressive therapy, uncontrolled HIV patients, those with hereditary immunodeficiencies, premature newborns, and the elderly.
Key viral agents include Herpesviruses, such as CMV and EBV, and Polyomaviruses (BK and JC viruses), which can cause nephropathy, graft loss, or progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Respiratory viruses including Influenza, RSV, Parainfluenza, Rhinovirus, and SARS-CoV-2 may lead to severe pneumonia and prolonged viral shedding, facilitating nosocomial transmission and antiviral resistance. Enteroviruses and Adenoviruses also behave more aggressively in this population.
Prevention is essential and can be achieved through vaccination, pre-transplant serological screening, and antiviral prophylaxis when indicated. Early diagnosis, particularly using quantitative PCR, enables timely intervention and monitoring of therapy.
Effective management requires a multidisciplinary approach combining preventive strategies, rapid diagnosis, and early treatment. A comprehensive understanding of viral agents, patient-specific risk factors, and clinical characteristics is critical to minimize complications, preserve organ function, and improve survival outcomes.
For this Special Issue, we invite submissions of original research articles, short communications, and review articles focusing on viral infections in immunocompromised patients, with a particular interest in the following topics: innovations in prevention, immunomodulation, diagnostics, and antiviral treatment.
Dr. Maria Angelica Guimarães
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- viral infection
- immunocompromised patients
- molecular diagnosis
- antiviral drug prophylaxis
- vaccines
- viral variants
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