Abstract |
In endemic regions, coccidioidomycosis causes substantial morbidity and mortality for patients receiving solid organ transplants. We aimed to demonstrate the effect of antifungal coccidioidal prophylaxis in heart transplant (HT) recipients. We retrospectively reviewed the electronic health records of all patients who received HTs between October 19, 2005, and December 13, 2014. We collected information regarding antifungal regimens and determined whether patients subsequently developed infections. Our 174-person cohort all received antifungal prophylaxis for at least 6 months (mean follow-up, 53.8 months). One proven and one probable coccidioidal infection (each, 0.6%) occurred during the study period. The incidence of coccidioidomycosis was 0.6% at 1 year and 2.3% at 5 years. No cases of proven coccidioidomycosis occurred within 2 years after transplantation. No patients developed disseminated disease, and no sentinel events were attributed to coccidioidomycosis. Both fluconazole and voriconazole were well tolerated. In the absence of intolerance or contraindication, we suggest continuing a universal antifungal prophylactic regimen with fluconazole for at least 6-12 months in HT recipients residing in a coccidioidomycosis-endemic area.
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Authors | Graham M Lohrmann, Darko Vucicevic, Romy Lawrence, D Eric Steidley, Robert L Scott, Shimon Kusne, Janis E Blair |
Journal | Transplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society
(Transpl Infect Dis)
Vol. 19
Issue 5
(Oct 2017)
ISSN: 1399-3062 [Electronic] Denmark |
PMID | 28695649
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | © 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Antifungal Agents
(administration & dosage, pharmacology)
- Arizona
(epidemiology)
- Coccidioidomycosis
(epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Endemic Diseases
(prevention & control)
- Heart Transplantation
(adverse effects)
- Humans
- Retrospective Studies
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