Clinical Approach to Infection in the Compromised Host

At the beginning of the new millennium, it is opportune to raveling of the molecular pathways of impaired host - review what has been accomplished in the field of infec- fense mechanisms and the characterization of the genetic tious diseases during the last decades of the previous mutations involved, with the prospect of novel strategies century. The paradigm of the immunocompromised host for therapeutic interventions and possible corrective gene has taught much about the pathophysiology of infectious therapy. In this foreword, I will take a helicopter view of diseases, particularly with regard to immunological as- the various aspects of host defense mechanisms with pects of host defense. In the beginning, Robert Good special emphasis on genetic factors, because of their re- called immunodeficiency syndromes experiments of na- vance for the course and outcome of infections. ture. In the 1960s and subsequent decades, the clinical During life, there exist phases of age-related c- and immunological aspects of immune deficiencies were promised immune functions. After birth there is a phys- studied and adequate treatment attempted. A reflection of logical immune deficiency because the production of an- these developments were the three successful meetings on bodies commences slowly upon contact of the neonate these topics in Veldhoven, The Netherlands (1980), Stir- with microorganisms and upon vaccination.