Infectious Complications Following Solid Organ Transplantation

Can the pan-immune-inflammation value predict gram negative bloodstream infection-related 30-day mortality in solid organ transplant patients?

BACKGROUND

The recently used pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) has not been adequately studied as a predictive marker for mortality in immunosuppressed patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of baseline PIV level as a predictor of 30-day mortality in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with gram negative bloodstream infections (GN-BSI).

METHODS

This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022, in 1104 SOT recipients. During the study period, 118 GN-BSI were recorded in 113 patients. Clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data were collected, and mortality rates (30-day and all-cause) were recorded.

RESULTS

The 113 recipients had a median age of 50 years [interquartile range (IQR) 37.5-61.5 years] with a male predominance (n = 72, 63.7%). The three most common microorganisms were as follows: 46 isolates (38.9%) of Escherichia coli, 41 (34.7%) of Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 12 (10.2%) of Acinetobacter baumannii. In 44.9% and 35.6% of the isolates, production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases and carbapenem resistance were detected, respectively. The incidence of carbapenem-resistant GN-BSI was higher in liver recipients than in renal recipients (n = 27, 69.2% vs n = 13, 17.6%, p < 0.001). All-cause and 30-day mortality rates after GN-BSI were 26.5% (n = 30), and 16.8% (n = 19), respectively. In the group with GN-BSI-related 30-day mortality, the median PIV level was significantly lower (327.3, IQR 64.8-795.4 vs. 1049.6, IQR 338.6-2177.1; p = 0.002). The binary logistic regression analysis identified low PIV level [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.86-0.99; p = 0.04], and increased age (HR = 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.09; p = 0.002) as factors associated with 30-day mortality. The receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that PIV could determine the GN-BSI-related 30-day mortality with area under curve (AUC): 0.723, 95% CI 0.597-0.848, p = 0.0005.

CONCLUSIONS

PIV is a simple and inexpensive biomarker that can be used to estimate mortality in immunosuppressed patients, but the results need to be interpreted carefully.

Assessing the quality of antimicrobial prescribing in solid organ transplant recipients: a new frontier in antimicrobial stewardship

Background

Post-transplant infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) and local standardized antimicrobial treatment guidelines may contribute to improved clinical outcomes. Our study assessed the rate of therapeutic compliance with local standard guidelines in the treatment of common infections in SOTR, and their associated outcomes.

Methods

Consecutive adult SOTRs admitted to the transplant floor from January-September 2020 and were treated for an infectious syndrome were followed until discharge or for 30 days following the date of diagnosis, whichever was shorter. Data was extracted from electronic medical records. Guideline compliance was characterized as either appropriate, effective but unnecessary, undertreatment, or inappropriate.

Results

Nine hundred and thirty-six SOTR were admitted to the transplant ward, of which 328 patients (35%) received treatment for infectious syndromes. Guidelines were applicable to 252 patients, constituting 275 syndromes: 86 pneumonias; 82 urinary tract infections; 40 intra-abdominal infections; 38 bloodstream infections; and 29 C. difficile infections. 200/246 (81%) of infectious syndromes received appropriate or effective but unnecessary empiric treatment. In addition, appropriate tailoring of antimicrobials resulted in a significant difference in 30-day all-cause mortality (adjusted OR of 0.07, 95% CI 0.01-0.38; P = .002). Lastly, we found that guideline-compliant empiric therapy was found to prevent the development of multi-drug resistance in a time-dependent analysis (adjusted HR of 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.52; P = .001).

Conclusion

Our data show that adherence to locally developed guidelines was associated with reduced mortality and resistant-organism development in our cohort of SOTR.

Monocentric, Retrospective Study on Infectious Complications within One Year after Solid-Organ Transplantation at a Belgian University Hospital

The epidemiology, diagnostic methods and management of infectious complications after solid-organ transplantation (SOT) are evolving. The aim of our study is to describe current infectious complications in the year following SOT and risk factors for their development and outcome. We conducted a retrospective study in adult SOT recipients in a Belgian university hospital between 2018 and 2019. We gathered demographic characteristics, comorbidities leading to transplantation, clinical, microbiological, surgery-specific and therapeutic data concerning infectious episodes, and survival status up to one year post-transplantation. Two-hundred-and-thirty-one SOT recipients were included (90 kidneys, 79 livers, 35 lungs, 19 hearts and 8 multiple organs). We observed 381 infections in 143 (62%) patients, due to bacteria (235 (62%)), viruses (67 (18%)), and fungi (32 (8%)). Patients presented a median of two (1-5) infections, and the first infection occurred during the first six months. Nineteen (8%) patients died, eleven (58%) due to infectious causes. Protective factors identified against developing infection were obesity [OR [IC]: 0.41 [0.19-0.89]; p = 0.025] and liver transplantation [OR [IC]: 0.21 [0.07-0.66]; p = 0.007]. Risk factors identified for developing an infection were lung transplantation [OR [IC]: 6.80 [1.17-39.36]; p = 0.032], CMV mismatch [OR [IC]: 3.53 [1.45-8.64]; p = 0.006] and neutropenia [OR [IC]: 2.87 [1.27-6.47]; p = 0.011]. Risk factors identified for death were inadequate cytomegalovirus prophylaxis, infection severity and absence of pneumococcal vaccination. Post-transplant infections were common. Addressing modifiable risk factors is crucial, such as pneumococcal vaccination.

Effect of pretransplant sarcopenia on patient and graft outcomes in solid organ transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The relationship between sarcopenia and prognosis in solid organ transplantation recipients (SOTr) remains unverified. We aimed to quantify the prevalence of pretransplant sarcopenia and its effect on patient and graft survival in SOTr. We used PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science to search relevant studies published in English (from inception to December 31, 2021). Prospective and retrospective cohort studies that reported the prevalence of sarcopenia before transplant or the association between sarcopenia and clinical outcomes in SOTr were included. Primary outcomes were the prevalence of sarcopenia and its impact on patient and graft survival. Secondary outcomes included perioperative complications, acute rejection, length of hospital stay, length of intensive care unit stay (ICU LOS) and early readmission. Thirty-nine studies involving 5792 patients were included. Pooled prevalence of sarcopenia amongst SOTr candidates was 40 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 34%-47 % and I2 = 97 %). Sarcopenia was associated with increased risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87, 95 % CI: 1.46-2.41 and I2 = 60 %), poor graft survival (HR = 1.71, 95 % CI: 1.16-2.54 and I2 = 57 %) and increased liver graft loss (HR = 1.43, 95 % CI: 1.03-1.99 and I2 = 38 %). Patients with sarcopenia demonstrated increased incidence of perioperative complications (risk ratio [RR] = 1.34, 95 % CI: 1.17-1.53 and I2 = 40 %), long ICU LOS (mean difference = 2.31 days, 95 % CI: 0.58-4.04 and I2 = 97 %) and decreased risk of acute rejection (RR = 0.61, 95 % CI: 0.42-0.89 and I2 = 0 %). In Conclusion, sarcopenia is prevalent in SOTr candidates and associated with death and graft loss. Identifying sarcopenia before transplantation and intervening may improve long-term outcomes.

Previous use of statins does not improve the outcome of bloodstream infection after kidney transplantation

Previous studies have suggested that exposure to statins confers a protective effect in bloodstream infection (BSI) due to the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties attributed to these lipid-lowering drugs. Scarce evidence is available for the solid organ transplant population. Therefore, we compared the time to clinical cure (primary outcome) and the time to fever resolution, new requirement of intensive care unit admission or renal replacement therapy, and 30-day all-cause mortality (secondary outcomes) between kidney transplant (KT) recipients with post-transplant BSI that were receiving or not statin therapy for at least the previous 30 days. We included 80 KT recipients that developed 109 BSI episodes (43 [39.4%] and 66 [60.6%] episodes within the statin and non-statin groups, respectively). The median interval since the initial prescription to BSI was 512 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 172-1388). Most episodes were of urinary source and due to Enterobacterales. There were no differences in the median time to clinical cure in the statin and non-statin groups (3.4 [IQR: 3-6.8] versus 4 [IQR: 2-6] days; p-value = .112). The lack of effect was confirmed by multiple linear regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors (standardized β coefficient = 0.040; p-value = .709). No significant differences were observed for any of the secondary outcomes either. Vital signs and laboratory values at BSI onset and after 72-96 h were similar in both groups. In conclusion, previous statin therapy had no apparent protective effect on the outcome of post-transplant BSI among KT recipients.

Kidney Transplantation and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Multiple Myeloma: Evidence From the United States Nationwide Inpatient Sample

PURPOSE

Patients with multiple myeloma (MM) are prone to developing persistent renal insufficiency. Novel therapeutic medications have improved long-term survival, making kidney transplantation (KT) a viable treatment option for MM survivors with end-stage renal disease. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes in patients with MM who have received KT.

METHODS

Data from hospitalized patients ≥ 40 years of age with MM in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2016-2018 of the United States were queried. Patients were classified as having or not having undergone KT, as well as the stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for those who had not received KT. Propensity-score matching (PSM) was applied to balance the characteristics between the groups. Binary logistic regression was utilized to determine the associations between study variables and inhospital mortality, unfavorable discharges, prolonged length of stay (LOS), and major complications.

RESULTS

In total, 50,654 hospitalized patients with MM were identified, of whom 165 (0.3%) had received KT and 50,489 had not (5,905 at stage 5 CKD [CKD5D], 11,559 at stage 1-4 CKD [CKD1-4D], and 33,025 who were CKD-free). After PSM, between-group demographic and hospital-related characteristics were balanced. Binary regression analysis revealed that, compared to patients who were CKD-free, patients at CKD5D were significantly more likely to experience a prolonged LOS (odds ratio [OR], 1.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.70) after adjusting for relevant confounders. Furthermore, compared to CKD-free patients, those who underwent KT were significantly more likely to have sepsis (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.02-2.14). However, KT showed no association with the other adverse inpatient outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Although KT is not common in MM patients, those who had undergone KT had comparable hospital outcomes to CKD-free patients. These data will help clinicians deliver better consultations to MM patients attempting to receive KT.

Cutaneous infections from viral sources in solid organ transplant recipients

INTRODUCTION

Solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) are susceptible to various dermatological complications caused by long-term immunosuppressive therapy. Of these complications, viral infections are noteworthy because of their high prevalence and the potential morbidity associated with viral carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the occurrence of cutaneous viral infections in SOTRs and their correlation with clinical features, transplant type, and the length and intensity of immunosuppressive therapy.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included SOTRs followed up at the Department of Dermatology in a tertiary hospital. The outcomes analyzed were the occurrence of cutaneous viral infections, including human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, herpes simplex, herpes zoster, molluscum contagiosum, Merkel cell carcinoma, Kaposi's sarcoma, and cytomegalovirus, and the occurrence of HPV-related neoplasms. Clinical variables, such as length and intensity of immunosuppression, type of transplanted organ, and comorbidities, were analyzed as possible risk factors for cutaneous viral infections in SOTRs.

RESULTS

A total of 528 SOTRs were included in this study, among which 53.8% had one or more viral infections. Of these, 10% developed a virus-associated malignancy (HPV-associated carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma, or Kaposi's sarcoma). The higher risk of viral infections among SOTRs was associated with cyclosporine intake (1.40-fold higher risk) and younger age at transplantation. The use of an immunosuppressive regimen, including additional drugs, was associated with a higher risk of genital HPV infection (1.50-fold higher risk for each incremental drug).

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of cutaneous viral infections in SOTRs is directly associated with the duration and intensity of immunosuppressive therapy. Patients at higher risk were those taking drugs with a stronger impact on cellular immunity and/or those on an immunosuppressive regimen comprising various drugs.

A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Health Literacy and Compliance to Treatment in Organ Transplant Recipients

This study was conducted to determine the correlations between health literacy, transplant effects, and compliance to treatment in organ transplant recipients and to identify the factors influencing compliance to treatment. The participants (n = 130; males = 66.9%; mean age = 56.4 years) were organ transplant recipients visiting an organ transplantation center in Seoul, South Korea. The regression model explained 32% of the variance in participants' compliance to treatment. Among the health literacy variables, "Scale 3: Actively managing my health" (β = 0.38, p = 0.001) and "Scale 4: Social support for health" (β = 0.25, p = 0.019) had a significant effect on compliance to treatment. In this study, health literacy was identified as a key factor influencing compliance to treatment. Therefore, patients' health literacy should be assessed prior to transplantation to identify potential high-risk patients for treatment nonadherence. In addition, after transplantation surgery, patient-tailored interventions should be developed and provided for self-management that reflects the patient's health literacy level to ultimately enhance patient outcomes.

Intracerebral opportunistic infections caused by immunosuppressants after orthotopic liver transplantation: Report of two cases and literature review

Central nervous system (CNS) infections in adults are rare because of normal immunity and the existence of the blood brain barrier, which prevents the invasion of pathogenic microorganisms. Liver transplant recipients are at an increased risk of opportunistic infections (OI) due to immunosuppressive therapy compared to those with normal immunity. Early diagnosis and timely implementation of treatment are critical for the successful treatment of these infections. We present two cases of intracerebral OI after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT), with different clinical presentations. Patient 1 presented with epileptic seizures, mainly manifested as unresponsiveness, unconsciousness, and coma complicated with involuntary limb twitching. Patient 2 presented with a consciousness disorder, mainly manifested as unclear consciousness content, poor orientation, calculation power, and logical ability. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) examination of the cerebrospinal fluid confirmed human herpesvirus 6 B (HHV-6B) infection in patient 1 and intracranial Aspergillus infection in patient 2. Intracranial OI has insidious onset and atypical clinical manifestations. NGS can allow for the proper diagnosis and monitoring of the effects of treatment.

Multidrug-resistant infections in solid organ transplant recipients: a focus on risk factors, prevention and treatment strategies

Solid organ transplantation is the best therapeutic option for patients with end-stage organ disease and, according to the data from international registries, there has been a steady increase in numbers and results. However, post-transplant infections remain a fearsome complication with, in the last decade, an increasing incidence of episodes due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and opportunistic agents. In this paper, we summarize the most relevant and updated knowledge concerning infections from multidrug-resistant germs in solid organ transplant recipients, focusing on risk factors, treatment and prevention strategies, and antimicrobial pharmacokinetics relevant to this particular population of patients.

Fatal Case of Perforated Cytomegalovirus Colitis: Case Report and Systematic Review

Objective: We describe a patient with history of heart transplant on maintenance immunosuppression who presented with sigmoid colon perforation from cytomegalovirus (CMV) colitis and performed a systematic review of outcomes after perforated CMV colitis. Background: Cytomegalovirus enterocolitis is uncommon among solid organ transplant patients and can result in small or large bowel perforation. Methods: We systematically reviewed articles describing patients with CMV enterocolitis with small or large bowel perforations from PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from database inception to February 2021. Results: Seventy-seven articles were identified containing 84 patients with perforated CMV enterocolitis. The most prevalent comorbid diagnosis was human immunodeficiency virus (HIV; 27 patients, 32%), and 37 patients (44%) were taking corticosteroids at time of presentation. The ileum was the most common location for a perforation (26 patients, 31%). Odds of survival were lower for patients with small bowel perforation (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.14-0.98) and HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11-0.88). Odds of survival were higher for patients with large bowel perforation (OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.03-7.09), radiographically diagnosed perforation (OR, 3.45; 95% CI, 1.12-11.60) and those who received a CMV antiviral (OR, 9.19; 95% CI, 3.26-28.48). Conclusions: Perforated CMV enterocolitis is uncommon even in immunocompromised hosts. Clinicians should maintain a high level of suspicion for CMV-induced bowel perforation in this population because antiviral treatment is associated with increased odds of survival.

Survival Outcome of Sepsis in Recipients of Solid Organ Transplant

Sepsis is a complex disease stemming from a dysregulated immune response toward an infectious agent. In transplantation, sepsis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Solid organ transplant recipients have impaired adaptive immunity due to immunosuppression required to prevent rejection. Immunosuppression has unintended consequences, such as increasing the risk of infections and sepsis. Due to its high morbidity and mortality, early detection of sepsis is paramount to start aggressive treatment. Several biomarkers or combination of biomarkers of sepsis have emerged in the last decade, but they are not dependable for early diagnosis or for outcome prognosis.

Chances and risks of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in solid organ transplantation: A review of literatures

Solid organ transplantation offers life-saving treatment for patients with end-organ dysfunction. Patient survival and quality of life have improved over the past few decades as a result of pharmacological development, expansion of the donor pool, technological advances and standardization of practices related to transplantation. Still, transplantation is associated with cardiovascular complications, of which post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) is one of the most important. PTDM increases mortality, which is best documented in patients who have received kidney and heart transplants. PTDM results from traditional risk factors seen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, but also from specific post-transplant risk factors such as metabolic side effects of immunosuppressive drugs, post-transplant viral infections and hypomagnesemia. Oral hypoglycaemic agents are the first choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus in non-transplanted patients. However, the evidence on the safety and efficacy of oral hypoglycaemic agents in transplant recipients is limited. The favourable risk/benefit ratio, which is suggested by large-scale and long-term studies on new glucose-lowering drug classes such as glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, makes studies warranted to assess the potential role of these agents in the management of PTDM.

Bacterial and fungal bloodstream infections in pediatric liver and kidney transplant recipients

Background

Bacterial and fungal bloodstream infections (BSI) are common after pediatric liver and kidney transplantations and associated with morbidity and mortality. However, knowledge about incidence rates, pathogen composition, and resistance patterns is limited. We aimed to describe the pattern of bacterial and fungal BSI in a cohort of pediatric liver and kidney transplant recipients.

Methods

A prospective study of 85 pediatric liver and kidney transplant recipients transplanted from 2010 to 2017 with a total of 390 person-years of follow-up. Clinical characteristics and BSI were retrieved from national registries assuring nationwide follow-up for at least 1 year. BSI incidence rates and pathogen composition were investigated and stratified by the time post-transplantation and type of transplanted organ.

Results

A total of 29 BSI were observed within the first 5 years post-transplantation with 16 different pathogens. The overall incidence rate of first BSI was 1.91 per 100 recipients per month (95% CI, 1.1–3.1) in the first year post-transplantation. The most common pathogens were Enterococcus faecium, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The pathogen composition depended on the transplanted organ with a higher proportion of BSI with Enterobacterales in kidney transplant recipients than in liver transplant recipients (67% vs. 20%, p = 0.03), while multiple pathogens were detected in the liver transplant recipients.

Conclusions

BSI were common in pediatric liver and kidney transplant recipients and the pathogen composition differed between liver and kidney transplant recipients. Guidelines for empiric antibiotic therapy should consider the type of transplanted organ as well as the local resistance patterns.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12879-021-06224-2.

Bacteremia in solid organ transplant recipients as compared to immunocompetent patients: Acute phase cytokines and outcomes in a prospective, matched cohort study

We undertook a prospective, matched cohort study of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) and gram-negative bacteremia (GNB) to compare the characteristics, outcomes, and chemokine and cytokine response in transplant recipients to immunocompetent, nontransplant recipients. Fifty-five transplant recipients (GNB n = 29; SAB n = 26) and 225 nontransplant recipients (GNB n = 114; SAB n = 111) were included for clinical analysis. Transplant GNB had a significantly lower incidence of septic shock than nontransplant GNB (10.3% vs 30.7%, p = .03). Thirty-day mortality did not differ significantly between transplant and nontransplant recipients with GNB (10.3% vs 15.8%, p = .57) or SAB (0.0% vs 11.7%, p = .13). Next, transplant patients were matched 1:1 with nontransplant patients for the chemokine and cytokine analysis. Five cytokines and chemokines were significantly lower in transplant GNB vs nontransplant GNB: IL-2 (median [IQR]: 7.1 pg/ml [7.1, 7.1] vs 32.6 pg/ml [7.1, 88.0]; p = .001), MIP-1β (30.7 pg/ml [30.7, 30.7] vs 243.3 pg/ml [30.7, 344.4]; p = .001), IL-8 (32.0 pg/ml [5.6, 53.1] vs 59.1 pg/ml [39.2, 119.4]; p = .003), IL-15 (12.0 pg/ml [12.0, 12.0] vs 12.0 pg/ml [12.0, 126.7]; p = .03), and IFN-α (5.1 pg/mL [5.1, 5.1] vs 5.1 pg/ml [5.1, 26.3]; p = .04). Regulated upon Activation, Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted (RANTES) was higher in transplant SAB vs nontransplant SAB (mean [SD]: 750.2 pg/ml [194.6] vs 656.5 pg/ml [147.6]; p = .046).

Pneumococcal pneumonia in adult hospitalised solid organ transplant recipients: Nationwide, population-based surveillance

BACKGROUND

Pneumococcal disease poses a burden to the community in high risk population. Most early studies focused on invasive pneumococcal disease. However, the epidemiology of pneumococcal pneumonia (PP) requiring hospitalisation in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) is poorly defined.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study (January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012) to evaluate the risk of PP requiring hospitalisation in SOTRs. SOTRs and non-SOT cohorts, propensity score-matched at a 1:1 ratio for age, sex, index date and underlying comorbidities, were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database.

RESULTS

Each cohort consisted of 7507 patients. In the SOT cohort, 26 episodes of PP requiring hospitalisation were identified (incidence rate of 52.4 per 100,000 person-years). The risk of PP requiring hospitalisation in the SOT cohort was 1.50 times greater than in the non-SOT cohort [adjusted hazard ratio: 1.50, 95% confidence interval = 1.31-1.71, P < .001]. The nested case control study identified older age, kidney transplant, and concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease and heart failure as predictors of PP requiring hospitalisation in the SOT cohort. The highest risk period for PP requiring hospitalisation occurred within the first year of transplantation (36.47 per 1000 patients). Amongst kidney transplant recipients, patients with PP requiring hospitalisation exhibited higher cumulative incidences of graft failure than those without PP (log-rank test: P value = .004).

CONCLUSIONS

SOTRs are at risk of PP requiring hospitalisation with its attendant morbidity. Strategies to reduce risk of PP requiring hospitalisation using preventive vaccinations warrant further study.

Management of Antimicrobial Agents in Abdominal Organ Transplant Patients in Intensive Care Unit

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Early diagnosis of infections and immediate initiation of appropriate antimicrobials are crucial in the management of patients before and after organ transplantation. We reviewed the most recent literature and guidelines in this field and organized the current recommendations for healthcare professionals caring for critically ill organ transplant recipients.

RECENT FINDINGS

The incidence of multidrug-resistant organisms is increasing. Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria comprise about 14% of organisms. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci bloodstream infections are also on the rise, as 20.5% of nosocomial enterococci are now vancomycin-resistant, changing empiric antibiotic selection. Fluconazole-resistant Candida species comprise up to 46% of cases of candidemia in hospitalized patients. Consequently, new guidelines recommend primary use of echinocandins in patients with candidemia who have moderate-to-severe disease. Finally, the incidence of emergence of ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus infection in patients is 5-12%, requiring early recognition and change to alternative regimens in the case of poor response to therapy.

SUMMARY

Bloodstream infections are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in solid organ transplantation. Mortality as high as 24% and 50% have been reported with sepsis and septic shock respectively. As such, bloodstream infections should be diagnosed rapidly and intravenous antibiotics should be started immediately. Appropriate resuscitation should be initiated and the number and/or dose of immunosuppressive drugs should be reduced. Proper source control must also be achieved with radiologic drainage or surgical intervention as appropriate. Initial antibiotic treatment of these patients should cover both Gram-positive organisms, especially in the presence of intravascular catheters, and Gram-negative bacteria. Echinocandins like caspofungin should also be considered especially in critically ill patients, particularly if a patient has been on total parenteral nutrition or broad-spectrum antibiotics.