DONOR SEPSIS IS NOT A CONTRAINDICATION TO CADAVERIC ORGAN DONATION

Systemic donor infection is regarded as being an absolute contraindica tion to cadaveric organ donation for transplantation. This is largely due to fear of transmitting pathogenic organisms to the immunosuppress ed recipient. However, due to the current shortage of organs available for transplantation, clinicians are faced with the option of using or gans from 'non-ideal' donors, such as those patients with documented e vidence of infection. We report the successful outcome of six orthotop ic liver transplants, 11 renal transplants, one combined heart lung tr ansplant and one simultaneous kidney and pancreas transplant with orga ns from eight donors in whom bacterial meningitis (n=7) and acute bact erial epiglottitis (n=1) were the antecedent causes of death.