THE IMPACT OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS ON THE OUTCOME OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS.

Dr Maroun Abou–Jaoude

Volume : V, Issue : X, October - 2015

THE IMPACT OF INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS ON THE OUTCOME OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANT PATIENTS.

Dr Maroun Abou Jaoude

Abstract :

Infections remain a frequent, potentially life–threatening complication of kidney transplantation. Subjects and Methods: Between 1998 and 2006 we evaluated the incidence of infections in 114 renal transplant patients, with a 1–year follow–up. All patients received a posttransplant anti–infectious prophylaxis regimen. Induction therapy was given to 94 patients (82.4%) and maintenance immunosuppression consisted of cyclosporin microemulsion in 61 (53.5%) patients, or Tacrolimus in 49 (42.9%) patients, associated to mycophenolate mofetil and prednisone. All demographic, clinical, and surgical data were analyzed by SPSS 13.0. Results: In total, 56 (49.1%) patients developed a total of 95 infections up to 1 year after kidney transplantation, including 46 in–hospital infections in 38 patients. Bacterial infections were the most frequent (97.8%), and were mainly urinary, followed by drain, central line catheter and pulmonary infections. The most frequent isolated bacteria were E.coli, followed by Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas. No viral infections were detected. Up to 1 year after discharge from the hospital, 49 infections occurred in 26 patients, of which 79.5% were bacterial, mainly urinary tract infections due to E.coli, in addition to 7 cases of Cytomegalovirus, 1 herpes, and 2 cases of fungal infections. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first Lebanese study that deals with posttransplant infections up to 1 year in transplant patients. It shows the importance of close patient monitoring and follow up. Comparison with international data shows similar patterns.