Infections of the hand in the immunocompromised host

Individuals who are immunocompromised, such as those with a diagnosis of diabetes or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), as well as patients immunosuppressed after transplantation or chemotherapy for oncologic reasons, are more prone to the development of infections in general, and, more specifically, infections of the hand. Most commonly, these hand infections are caused by organisms that are common to the skin but may show an unusual aggressive or atypical course. A small percentage of these patients are infected by atypical organisms that rarely cause infections in an immunocompetent individual. The surgeon who treats hand infections also must be aware of systemic conditions that can negatively impact the treatment of hand infections.