A. Menafoglio et al., INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS AFTER HEART-TRAN SPLANTATION - THE LAUSANNE EXPERIENCE, Schweizerische medizinische Wochenschrift, 124(34), 1994, pp. 1479-1488
Infectious complications, a major cause of morbidity and mortality aft
er heart transplantation, were reviewed in 49 heart transplant patient
s at Lausanne. The follow-up lasted 32 months on average. 43 patients
(88%) presented 108 infections (2.20 episodes of infection/patient). 3
8 severe infections (0.78 episodes/patient) were diagnosed in 27 patie
nts (55%). 2 of the 9 deaths which occurred were due to infection. The
viruses, principally of the herpes group, were responsible for 37% of
all the infections, and bacteria for 28%. About a third of the viral
and bacterial infections were severe. The other documented infections
were caused by fungi (13%), which were most often responsible for supe
rficial infections, and rarely by protozoa (5%). Finally, in 17% of in
fectious episodes, the pathogen could not be identified. Cytomegalovir
us was the pathogen the most frequently responsible in severe infectio
ns. The highest incidence of infections occurred during the first 2-3
months after transplantation and was reduced considerably after the 6t
h month. The distribution of different pathogens was related to specif
ic periods after the transplant. Our results confirm that infection is
a major complication of heart transplantation. Clinical and prophylac
tic aspects of some infections are reviewed.