Why Infections Happen for People with CLL

An infection occurs when harmful microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, invade the body and multiply, causing damage to tissues and organs.

Infections are common in CLL due to a weakened immune system. CLL affects B-cells, reducing antibody production and increasing infection risk. It can also disrupt the bone marrow and cause immune dysfunction, making infections more likely. Additionally, some therapies lower both cancerous CLL cells and infection-fighting B-cells, further increasing susceptibility to infections.

Common infections can include respiratory, COVID-19, urinary tract, skin, gastrointestinal infections, and opportunistic infections like candidiasis and pneumocystis pneumonia. 

While a sore throat or a runny nose might not seem like serious issues for someone with a properly functioning immune system, people with CLL (and their caregivers) need to report these symptoms to their doctors immediately. A fever can indicate a serious infection and should be reported and acted upon immediately. Monitoring and preventive measures are crucial. 

Symptoms of Infections

Infections trigger the body's immune response, leading to symptoms such as the ones shown below:

How are CLL-Related Infections Managed?

To reduce the risk of infections, people with CLL can benefit from supportive measures such as preventative antibiotics (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline), antifungals (azole, echinocandins), and antivirals (acyclovir, valacyclovir). 

Patients can ask their doctor about these supportive measures and may receive immunoglobulin infusions (IVIG) to boost their immune system.

CLL specialists also recommend adding recombinant (not live) vaccines to prevent infection. Specifically, they recommend yearly flu shots, PNA every five years, the COVID-19 vaccine as recommended by the CDC, RSV, and shingles vaccine. 

If an infection occurs, your doctor may pause your treatment until it is resolved.

Click here to learn more about reducing infection risk with CLL.