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Neutrophil count and susceptibility to infection

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The susceptibility to infection is related to the level of neutrophil count.

Peripheral blood neutrophils (x 10^9/l)

  • 1.0-1.5 - mild susceptibility to infection
  • 0.5-1.0 - moderate susceptibility to infection
  • <0.5 - severe susceptibility to infection

The effects of neutropaenia are not consistent and depend upon factors such as the degree and duration of neutropaenia, underlying cause; host defences, general physical state, integrity of skin and mucous membranes, bone-marrow's capacity to respond to infection, previous antimicrobial therapy.

Patients with neutropaenia secondary to a failure of production are at greater risk of infective complications than those in whom there is neutrophil destruction.


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