Clinical aspects of infection

Abstract

Infections in solid organ transplant recipients continue to be a significant source of morbidity and mortality. More than 80% of recipients develop at least one infection during the first year [16]. Kidney transplant recipients have the lowest risk of infection as compared to lung, liver, and heart allograft recipients, and this is likely related to the more elective nature of the surgery and better overall status of the patient prior to transplantation. Infections in this patient population, however, can lead to graft dysfunction, allograft rejection, alterations in immune status, and affect the overall transplant outcome [11]. Moreover, chronic graft rejection will necessitate more rigorous immunosuppression which will, in turn, increase the risk of developing infections with immunomodulating viruses [16]. There is thus a fine balance between developing the adequate immunosuppressive regimen that will prevent allograft rejection while at the same time not posing a significant risk for infection. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.