Prophylaxis strategies for solid-organ transplantation

Abstract

In addition to the net state of immunosuppression, the risk of infection after transplantation is largely determined by the transplant recipient's epidemiologic exposures. Potential sources of infection in the transplant recipient include the environment and the recipient's endogenous flora. This article presents aspects of prevention of infection after solid-organ transplantation such as avoidance of epidemiologic exposures, anti-bacterial prophylaxis, prophylaxis for tuberculin-positive transplant recipients, and prophylaxis against infections with Pneumocystis carinii and Toxoplasma gondii.