Infections in the kidney transplant recipient

Abstract

Transplant recipients are at higher risk for a wide variety of severe infections, including skin and disseminated disease, due to immunosuppression. Fungal infections are especially common and can range from slight scale on the feet to life-threatening multisystem disease. Fungal infections in humans can be divided into three main groups based on tissue invasion and host characteristics: superficial cutaneous, subcutaneous, and opportunistic. Each has the potential to complicate the management of a renal transplant patient. A high index of suspicion is required to identify potential fungal infections in these patients. With proper awareness, the vast majority of fungal infections can be identified and successfully treated. This chapter primarily reviews the common fungal infections, their clinical characteristics, strategies for diagnosing fungal infections, and treatment of the more common infections. Other opportunistic infections are included for completeness but will not be covered in depth.