Infection in solid organ transplantation

Abstract

Infection in the organ transplant recipient is a major determinant of the outcome of transplantation. The attributable mortality from invasive fungal disease and cytomegalovirus disease has been 50 and 30%, respectively. Determinants of infection include epidemiologic exposures to environmental pathogens or exposure to latent infection in the donated organ or recipient, and changes in the net state of immunosuppression. For the past two decades significant improvements have been made in the recognition, prevention and treatment of infections, such as cytomegalovirus and P. carinii. Future research will need to focus on treatment of invasive mold infections, and the management of hepatitis B and C in liver transplantation. In addition, improvement in the prevention of the post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease syndrome will be necessary.