Springer Pathology of Opportunistic Infections: An Illustrative Atlas

This book presents the morphological details of various opportunistic pathogens for prompt identification, which is essential for the proper management of various bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections encountered in immunocompromised patients. Over the past few decades, certain therapeutic advances –such as organ transplantation, prolonged use of steroids and other immunosuppressants for various diseases and chemo-radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant tumors– have, in addition to improving patient survival, also contributed to significant aberrations in the patients’ host defense mechanisms. Further, due to compromised host resistance, certain clinical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus, and major organ-related problems like chronic renal failure, chronic liver and chronic lung diseases etc., make these patients potentially vulnerable to a variety of opportunistic infections.  The challenges posed by the opportunistic pathogens are enormous. Early clinical suspicion, prompt morphological identification and timely management are essential so as to prevent high morbidity and mortality associated with these infections. These pathogens often go unnoticed due to a lack of familiarity with their morphological appearances in the context of histopathological and/or cytological evaluation. From the Back Cover This book presents the morphological details of various opportunistic pathogens for prompt identification, which is essential for the proper management of various bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections encountered in immunocompromised patients. Over the past few decades, certain therapeutic advances –such as organ transplantation, prolonged use of steroids and other immunosuppressants for various diseases and chemo-radiotherapy for the treatment of malignant tumors– have, in addition to improving patient survival, also contributed to significant aberrations in the patients’ host defense mechanisms. Further, due to compromised host resistance, certain clinical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, diabetes mellitus, and major organ-related problems like chronic renal failure, chronic liver and chronic lung diseases etc., make these patients potentially vulnerable to a variety of opportunistic infections.  The challenges posed by the opportunistic pathogens are enormous. Early clinical suspicion, prompt morphological identification and timely management are essential so as to prevent high morbidity and mortality associated with these infections. These pathogens often go unnoticed due to a lack of familiarity with their morphological appearances in the context of histopathological and/or cytological evaluation. About the Author Prof. Gupta is a medical graduate (MBBS) and Postgraduate MD (Path & Bact) from King George’s Medical College, Lucknow.  He was awarded several prizes and honors both during undergraduate and postgraduate medical career. After having served in various academic positions such as Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor for about 20 years in UP State Government Medical Colleges, in the year 1992 he joined as Professor and Head of Department Pathology at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow. At this upcoming medical institute, he developed the Department of Pathology to its best and initiated MD (Pathology) postgraduate course and established specialty pathology training and post-doctorate certificate course in Renal Pathology. At Sanjay Gandhi PGI he made tremendous academic and administrative contributions and had also been the Dean and Director of  the Institute. Prof. Gupta has keen interest in research. Renal Pathology, Transplant Pathology, Cardiac Pathology and Pathology of Opportunistic infections have been some of the specialized areas of his academic activities. He has completed more than 20 research projects funded by International, National and Regional scientific bodies and has contributed mo