Epidemiology and clinical impact of infection in patients awaiting heart transplantation

Abstract

Infections are common in heart transplant candidates, affecting almost 25% of them. Respiratory tract infections are the most frequent type of infection. However, they are not associated with increased mortality in the immediate post-transplant period.

Impact of pre‐transplant bloodstream infection on clinical outcomes after heart transplantation

“…[3][4][5][6] Among all infections, respiratory tract infections are the most frequent, followed by skin and soft tissue infections, intraabdominal infections, BSI, and urinary tract infections. 3 Although active infection is considered a contraindication for HT, successful HTs in patients with an active infection have been reported previously in small series. 3,17,18 Furthermore, carefully selected, clinically stable patients could safely undergo HT without affecting mortality.…”

“…This is especially true for those in critical conditions requiring multiple intravascular catheters, renal replacement therapy (RRT), and mechanical circulatory support (MCS). In patients with intravascular device infection, positive blood cultures might persist until the removal of the infected device, and eradicating the infection before transplant is almost impossible 3–6 . This study aimed to investigate the impact of pre‐transplant BSI on the clinical outcomes after HT.…”

Seroprevalence of Bartonella henselae in patients awaiting heart transplant in Southern Italy

“…32 Although, in the post-transplant period, many risk factors for infection are known, the epidemiology of infections in patients awaiting heart transplant and the effect of pretransplant infections in the post-transplant period remain to be investigated. 33 Most of the guidelines for pretransplant management recommend the screening of patients potentially exposed to infectious agents, however, they do not include fastidious pathogens such as B. henselae. 34 Bartonella infections display different progression and organ involvement due to a balance between host and bacterial factors.…”

Infections in Heart, Lung, and Heart-Lung Transplantation

“…Although not associated with increased posttransplant mortality, infections before transplant can affect up to 25% of heart transplant candidates. Being bronchitis and soft tissue infections, the more commonly present [9]. Despite no major changes in the distribution of causes of death since 1994, infections remained a predominant factor of mortality during the first 3 years after transplant.…”