The aim of the present study is to evaluate the epidemiology, etiology and prognosis of pneumonia in lung transplant (LT) recipients. This is a prospective, multicenter study of a consecutive cohort of LT recipients in Spain. From September 2003 to November 2005, 85 episodes of pneumonia in 236 LT recipients were included (incidence 72 episodes per 100 LT/year). Bacterial pneumonia (82.7%) was more frequent than fungal (14%) and viral pneumonia (10.4%). The most frequent microorganisms in each etiological group were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 14, 24.6%), CMV (n = 6, 10.4%) and Aspergillus spp. (n = 5, 8.8%). Incidence of Aspergillus spp. and CMV pneumonia is lower than previously reported, probably due to the spread of universal prophylaxis. Pneumonia caused by viruses appeared significantly later than pneumonia due to gram-negative bacilli, fungi and those without known etiology (p < 0.01, p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). The routine use of ganciclovir has changed the natural history of CMV infection, so that pneumonia appears later, once prophylaxis is suspended. The probability of survival during the first year of follow-up was significantly higher in the multivariate analysis in LT recipients who did not have a pneumonia episode compared with those that had at least one episode (p < 0.01).

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BACKGROUND Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an effective treatment. However, protocols differ widely, and some questions, such as the number of cells to be collected or the number of ECP treatment days per treatment cycle, are still unsolved. The aim of this study was to compare a multistep (offline) (Spectra Optia and Macogenic G2) against an integrated (inline) ECP system (Therakos Cellex system) with respect to mononuclear cell (MNC) collection. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS The number and quality parameters of the MNC products collected were evaluated together with some machine parameters, such as collection time. Comparisons were made through paired sample analysis with the t test. RESULTS Fourteen patients underwent 15 double‐paired procedures using both ECP protocols. The average MNC collected in the multistep procedure was 77.4 × 108, four times more than in the integrated procedure (18.5 × 108). MNC purity (84.4% vs. 63.8%) and enrichment (27.9 vs. 5.9) in the product collected were also higher in the multistep procedure. The whole ECP time was higher in the multistep than in the integrated procedure (272 vs. 106 min), but the calculated time to collect 25 × 108 MNCs in the multistep was shorter compared with the one‐step procedure (77.8 vs. 172 min). All these differences between the two protocols were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS These two ECP protocols are different with respect to MNC collection and length of procedure. Some unresolved questions, such as the better MNC dose to inactivate or the number of consecutive days that ECP should be performed for optimal clinical efficacy, require further review.

bronchial tree or after endoscopic dilatation of a benign anastomotic stricture. Other causative factors have only been reported as solitary cases. 4 Among these, we have found in the literature just 1 other case in which the tracheogastric fistula presented in association with an auto-expandable esophageal wall-stent prosthesis. 5 Symptoms at presentation may range from mild to life-threatening. 3,4 Yet the possibility of a rapid deterioration of the patient's general condition should always be kept in mind. Just on suspicion, a barium esophagogram should promptly be performed for diagnosis. Treatment is always challenging and has to be individually tailored. It will depend on the severity of symptoms, on the size and location of the fistula, and on accompanying conditions. If surgery is required, the procedure of choice is excision of the fistula and closure of the tracheal and esophageal defects. Interposition of a pedicled pleural, omental, or muscle flap has proved to be useful in preventing recurrence of the fistula. The gastric tube should be left in place unless judged as an unviable option. In such case, colonic interposition is indicated to restore the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract. If mediastinitis is present, elimination of the septic focus and extensive drainage of the mediastinum are mandatory. 3,4

The CMV Symposium in September 2021 was an international conference dedicated to cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This review provides an overview of the presentations given by the expert faculty, supplemented with educational clinical cases. Topics discussed include CMV epidemiology and diagnosis, the burden of CMV infection and disease, CMV‐specific immunity and management of CMV in transplant settings. Major advances in the prevention and treatment of CMV in the past decade and increased understanding of CMV immunity have led to improved patient outcomes. In the future, management algorithms may be individualized based on the transplant recipient's immune profile, which will mark the start of a new era for patients with CMV.

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