Abstract | BACKGROUND: Opportunistic pulmonary infections (OPI) represent common life-threatening complications after solid organ transplantation. Our objective was to describe pulmonary infections caused by opportunistic pathogens in solid-organ transplant patients. METHODS: We analyzed all adult solid organ recipients (liver, heart, kidney, and pancreas) between July 2003 and June 2010, reporting all episodes of pulmonary opportunistic infection. RESULTS: During the study period, 1656 solid organ transplants were performed and 188 opportunistic infections were diagnosed in 163 patients (incidence 10%). In 40 cases, the site of infection was the lung (21%) with 57.5% occurring between the first and sixth month posttransplantation. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Aspergillus spp (n = 25, 63%), followed by Pneumocystis jirovecii (n = 6 cs, 15%). Twenty-five patients with an opportunistic pulmonary infections died during the follow-up including, 16 related to the infection (40%). The causative organism responsible for the highest mortality was Aspergillus spp (n = 12; 48%). Twenty-one patients with an opportunistic nonrespiratory infection died, five of them related to it (4%). Opportunistic pulmonary infection was associated with an increased mortality rate (P < .001). There was a trend toward a higher mortality among patients who developed OPI during the first 6 months after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Opportunistic pulmonary infections after solid organ transplantation are not infrequent. The period of risk for developing this infectious complications goes beyond the first 6 months posttransplantation. Mortality due to these infections was high in comparison to that of opportunistic nonrespiratory infections. It is important to keep a high index of suspicion for infectious complications during all posttransplant periods, as this is the first step toward a rapid diagnosis and adequate treatment.
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Authors | I Hoyo, G Sanclemente, C Cervera, F Cofán, M J Ricart, F Perez-Villa, M Navasa, M A Marcos, J Puig de la Bellacasa, A Moreno |
Journal | Transplantation proceedings
(Transplant Proc)
Vol. 44
Issue 9
Pg. 2673-5
(Nov 2012)
ISSN: 1873-2623 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 23146490
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Topics |
- Adult
- Aspergillus
(isolation & purification)
- Chi-Square Distribution
- Female
- Heart Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Humans
- Incidence
- Kidney Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Liver Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Opportunistic Infections
(diagnosis, microbiology, mortality, therapy)
- Organ Transplantation
(adverse effects, mortality)
- Pancreas Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Pneumocystis carinii
(isolation & purification)
- Pneumonia, Pneumocystis
(microbiology)
- Pulmonary Aspergillosis
(microbiology)
- Respiratory Tract Infections
(diagnosis, microbiology, mortality, therapy)
- Risk Assessment
- Risk Factors
- Spain
(epidemiology)
- Time Factors
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