Final answer:
Bone marrow transplant recipients are at risk of developing graft-versus-host disease and cytomegalovirus infection. GVHD occurs when the donor's immune cells attack the recipient's tissues, while CMV infection can cause fever, leukopenia, and serious complications. Measures are taken to reduce the risk of these infections in transplant recipients.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bone marrow transplant recipients are at risk of developing infections. Two common types of infections in these patients include graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection.
GVHD occurs when the donor's immune cells attack the recipient's tissues, leading to symptoms like rash, liver damage, and mucosal damage. To reduce the risk of GVHD, mature T cells are often removed from the donor bone marrow before transplantation.
CMV infection is common in transplant recipients and can cause fever, leukopenia, and serious complications like liver damage and transplant rejection. This infection can occur due to reactivation of prior CMV infections or exposure to CMV-contaminated tissues.