What infections are characteristic of an abnormality of phagocytic cells?
Phagocytic cell dysfunction can be from defects in neutrophil numbers (e.g., congenital or cyclic neutropenia), adherence (e.g., leukocyte adhesion deficiency 1 [LAD-1]), chemotaxis, degranulation (e.g., Chediak–Higashi), microbial killing (e.g., chronic granulomatous disease), or from defects in monocyte numbers (congenital) or macrophage dysfunction (e.g., defect in interferon-γ receptor or interleukin (IL)-12 signaling). Patients with absence of pus at sites of infection and poor wound healing have defects in neutrophil numbers, adhesion, or chemotaxis. Patients with neutrophil defects of microbial killing present with lymphadenitis and visceral or perirectal abscesses with granuloma formation caused by low-virulence gram-negative organisms, such as E coli, Serratia, or Klebsiella . Other patients will have gingivitis and skin infections or furunculosis with Staphylococcus species or Pseudomonas. Patients with macrophage defects have frequent mycobacterial infections.
