Status of the Host Various host factors must be considered in the devising of antibacterial chemotherapy. The host's antibacterial immune function is of importance, particularly as it relates to opsonophagocytic function. Since the major host defense against acute, overwhelming bacterial infection is the polymorphonuclear leukocyte, patients with neutropenia must be treated aggressively and empirically with bactericidal drugs for suspected infection (Chap. 82). Likewise, patients who have deficient humoral immunity (., those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma) and individuals with surgical or functional asplenia (., those with sickle cell disease) should be treated empirically for infections with encapsulated organisms,.
