The incidence and management of pulmonary mycosis in renal allograft patients

Abstract

A retrospective analysis of 193 renal transplant recipients yielded 15 patients who developed pulmonary mycosis posttransplantation and one case in which mycotic lung infection existed at the time of transplant surgery. Agent responsible for infection included Nocardia asteroides in 8 cases, Asperigillus flavus in 5 cases, Cryptococcus neoformans in 4 patients and Candida albicans in 2 cases. Two cases had mixed mycotic infections. Ten patients died, of which 7 had diagnosis established antemortem. Two cases had diagnosis established by thoracotomy and 1 case by transtracheal aspiration. Problems in establishing accurate diagnosis are discussed with emphasis placed on the need for more frequent use of transtracheal aspiration and thoracotomy for precise diagnosis.