Opportunistic infections in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are susceptible to infection from a variety of opportunistic pathogens. We have described an elderly man with CLL who had repeated, severe bacterial and fungal infections including recurrent cryptococcal meningitis, disseminated histoplasmosis, Vibrio fetus sepsis, Pasturella tularensis sepsis, and Aspergillus pneumonia. B cell and possible T cell defectiveness in CLL as well as chronic corticosteroid therapy contributed to the weakened host defenses.