Renal Transplantation: Infectious Complications

Abstract

Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality after transplantation, not only in the immediate post-operative period but also beyond. The infectious burden in the posttransplant setting is mostly related to the iatrogenic immunosuppression required to avoid graft rejection, but also to other factors such as surgical site infection, cytopenias, and community exposures (Fishman, Am J Transplant 17:856-79, 2017). In comparison to adults, pediatric kidney transplant recipients are at further risk for infections because they have not had the opportunity to encounter many pathogens and mount an immune response prior to transplant. This chapter focuses on frequently encountered bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections following pediatric kidney transplantation.