Infections in solid-organ transplant recipients

Abstract

Solid-organ transplantation is a therapeutic option for many human diseases. Infections are a major complication of solid-organ transplantation. All candidates should undergo a thorough infectious-disease screening prior to transplantation. There are three time frames, influenced by surgical factors, the level of immunosuppression, and environmental exposures, during which infections of specific types most frequently occur posttransplantation. Most infections during the first month are related to surgical complications. Opportunistic infections typically occur from the second to the sixth month. During the late posttransplant period (beyond 6 months), transplantation recipients suffer from the same infections seen in the general community. Opportunistic bacterial infections seen in transplant recipients include those caused by Legionella spp., Nocardia spp., Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes. Cytomegalovirus is the most common cause of viral infections. Herpes simplex virus, varicella-zoster virus, Epstein-Barr virus and others are also significant pathogens. Fungal infections, caused by both yeasts and mycelial fungi, are associated with the highest mortality rates. Mycobacterial, pneumocystis, and parasitic diseases may also occur.

Frequency of musculoskeletal complications among the patients receiving solid organ transplantation in a tertiary health-care center

“…Predominantly, the patients under solid organ transplantation experience infections (due to use of immunosuppressors and decrease humoral and cellular immunity), neurological complications (due to drug-induced neuropathies), pulmonary adverse eVects [5][6][7][8], and many other complications [9][10][11]. These complications would result in a poor prognosis and subsequently decreased quality of life and sometimes transplant rejection that may lead to increased health service costs and increased mortality and morbidity [2,12,13].…”

Molecular Monitoring of Candida albicans Infections in Liver Transplant Recipients

“…These severely immunocompromised patients are frequently plagued by opportunistic infections that, as of now, remain the leading cause of death [2,3]. Fungal infections have been estimated to occur in up to 14,35, and 42% of kidney, lunglung/heart, and liver transplant recipients, respectively [4,5]. Such infections mainly occur within the first 2 months after transplantation, the most common infectious agents being Candida spp., in particular Candida albicans, followed by Aspergillus spp.…”

Infektionen unter immunsuppressiver Therapie nach Organtransplantation

“…Sie treten nach Nierentransplantation im Vergleich zu Patienten nach Leber-, Pankreas-oder Lungentransplantation eher selten auf (⊡ Tabelle 1; [48]). …”