Infective complications in renal allograft recipients: epidemiology and outcome

Abstract

Introduction: Successful renal transplantation strictly depends on good control of rejection and better prevention and treatment of infections, which remain serious threats.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study of 245 renal allograft recipients who underwent transplantation between January 2002 and December 2005 included a 21+/-10 months follow-up.

Results: A total of 110 (44.9%) patients developed an infective process during the posttransplantation period, namely, 232 infective processes. Eighty patients developed at least 1 episode of urinary tract infection (UTI) 11 patients (4%) had a wound infection, and 30 patients (12%) had pneumonia. We diagnosed 35 cases of bacteremia (35%), whereas cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was demonstrated in 40 patients (16%).

Conclusions: Immunosuppressive therapy, necessary to avoid acute and chronic rejection, exposes patients to a higher rate of infectious complications. The immunosuppressive protocols led to a relatively low incidence of infectious complications, mainly of little clinical significance. The highest incidence was evident by the sixth month after transplantation, when the immunosuppressive regimen exercised its most depressive effects on patient immune systems.