INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN SOLID-ORGAN TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS

Infection and allograft rejection remain the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the solid organ transplant patient. The incidence of infectious complications has decreased with the use of prophylactic a ntibiotic agents and improved surgical techniques. Infections that occ ur post-transplantation vary in a predictable pattern depending on whi ch organ is transplanted and the time course post-transplantation. The two most important factors that predispose transplant patients to inf ection are the use of cadaveric organs and repeated treatment of recur rent or persistent rejection. It is important to screen the donor and the recipient for possible infectious disease risks to prevent reactiv ation of latent infection and the transfer from the donor to recipient of infection, and to minimize intraoperative and nosocomial infection s. Infectious disease complications require rapid diagnosis and early treatment for cure. Further evaluation is necessary into the developme nt of more specific immunosuppressive agents, prophylactic antibiotic regimens, and antifungal agents.