A retrospective study to describe the epidemiology and outcomes of opportunistic infections after abdominal organ transplantation

Hospitalizations for opportunistic infections following transplantation and associated risk factors: A national cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries

BACKGROUND

Opportunistic infections (OIs) are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality after organ transplantation, though data in the liver transplant (LT) population are limited.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of LT recipients between January 1, 2007 and Deceber 31, 2016 using Medicare claims data linked to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database. Multivariable Cox regression models evaluated factors independently associated with hospitalizations for early (≤1 year post transplant) and late (>1 year) OIs, with a particular focus on immunosuppression.

RESULTS

There were 11 320 LT recipients included in the study, of which 13.2% had at least one OI hospitalization during follow-up. Of the 2638 OI hospitalizations, 61.9% were early post-LT. Cytomegalovirus was the most common OI (45.4% overall), although relative frequency decreased after the first year (25.3%). Neither induction or maintenance immunosuppression were associated with early OI hospitalization (all p > .05). The highest risk of early OI was seen with primary sclerosing cholangitis (aHR 1.74; p = .003 overall). Steroid-based and mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor-based immunosuppression at 1 year post LT were independently associated with increased late OI (p < .001 overall).

CONCLUSION

This study found OI hospitalizations to be relatively common among LT recipients and frequently occur later than previously reported. Immunosuppression regimen may be an important modifiable risk factor for late OIs.

Trends in epidemiology and risk factors of opportunistic infections in kidney transplant recipients between 2004 and 2017

BACKGROUND

While opportunistic infections are a frequent and challenging problem in kidney transplant recipients, their long-term epidemiology remains hardly known.

METHODS

Opportunistic infections were recorded in 1144 recipients transplanted in our center between 2004 and 2015. Incidence rates and baseline risk factors were determined using joint frailty models.

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 5.6 years, 544 opportunistic infections occurred in 373/1144 (33%) patients, dominated by viral infections (396/544, 72%), especially cytomegalovirus (CMV) syndromes and diseases (213/544, 39%). One-third of the infected patients experienced at least two opportunistic infections. The incidence of opportunistic infections was 10 times higher during the first year post-transplantation than after that (34.7 infections for 100 patient-years vs 3.64). Opportunistic infections associated with the age of the donor (P = .032), the age of the recipient (P = .049), the CMV serostatus (P < 10-6), a higher class II HLA mismatch (P = .032) and an induction treatment including rabbit anti-thymocyte globulins (P = .026). Repeated opportunistic infections associated with each other (P < 10-6) and with renal death (P < 10-6).

CONCLUSION

Opportunistic infections occur with a two-period incidence pattern and many susceptible patients suffer from repeated episodes. This knowledge may help tailor new prevention and follow-up strategies to reduce the burden of opportunistic infections and their impact on transplantation outcome.

Beyond the First Year: Epidemiology and Management of Late-Onset Opportunistic Infections After Kidney Transplantation

Late opportunistic infections (OI) occurring beyond the first year after kidney transplantation (KT) are poorly described and not targeted by prophylactic strategies. We performed a ten-year retrospective monocentric cohort study describing epidemiology, risk factors and impact of late OI occurring 1 year after KT. We included clinically symptomatic OI requiring treatment besides BK virus nephropathy. Control groups included early OI occurring in the first year after KT, and KT recipients without OI since KT and alive with a functional allograft at 1 year. Among 1066 KT recipients, 185 (19.4%) presented a first episode of OI 21.0 (8.0-45.0) months after KT: 120 late OI (64.9%) and 65 early OI (35.1%). Late OI were mainly viral (N = 83, 69.2%), mostly herpes zoster (HZ) (N = 36, 43.4%). Pneumocystis represented most late fungal infections (N = 12/25, 48%). Compared to early OI, we reported more pneumocystis (p = 0.002) and less invasive aspergillosis (p = 0.01) among late OI. Patients with late OI were significatively younger at KT (54.0 ± 13.3 vs. 60.2 ± 14.3 years, p = 0.05). Patient and allograft survival rates between late OI and control groups were similar. Only age was independently associated with mortality. While late OI were not associated with higher mortality or graft loss, implementing prophylactic strategies might prevent such infections.

Risk of Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: A Population-Based Study

Few studies have comprehensively investigated the occurrence of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. This study investigated the risk of PJP after organ transplantation. Each patient who underwent SOT was propensity-score-matched with four non-SOT individuals in terms of sex, age, insured salary, urbanization of residence, comorbidities, and year of enrollment. When considering the 3-year follow-up, the patients who had undergone SOT were at higher risk of PJP, with the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) being 17.18 (95% confidence interval (CI): 8.80-33.53). Furthermore, SOT recipients were also at higher PJP risk than the patients without SOT at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years, with the aOR being 22.64 (95% CI: 7.53-68.11), 26.19 (95% CI: 9.89-69.37), and 23.06 (95% CI: 10.23-51.97), respectively. Patients comorbid with HIV infection, hematological malignancies, or vasculitis were at higher risk (aOR = 59.08, 95% CI = 20.30-171.92), (aOR = 11.94, 95% CI = 5.36-26.61), and (aOR = 21.72, 95% CI = 2.41-195.81), respectively. The recipients of SOT were at higher risk of PJP, and PJP can develop at any stage after transplantation. SOT recipients comorbid with HIV, hematologic malignancies, or vasculitis were at higher PJP risk.

Characteristics and Clinical Course of Alveolar Echinococcosis in Patients with Immunosuppression-Associated Conditions: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objectives: Since the change in the millennium, an increase in cases of alveolar echinococcosis (AE) has been observed in endemic European countries. Previous studies indicate that a significant proportion of the new AE cases have an immunosuppression-associated condition (IAC). The aim of the current study was to determine how IACs impact the number of new AE diagnoses per year and the characteristics of AE at diagnosis and its clinical course at our center. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 189 patients with AE diagnosed between 2000 and 2021 and participating in the Zurich Echinococcosis Cohort Study (ZECS) included clinical characteristics of AE at diagnosis and report of an IAC, as well as the clinical course during follow-up. Results: Of 189 patients participating in this study, 38 had an IAC reported at, or shortly after, AE diagnosis. Over time, there was a steeper increase in the number of newly diagnosed AE patients without an IAC than the number of patients with IAC. Patients with an IAC were older at diagnosis, more frequently had an incidental finding of AE, smaller mean lesion size, and negative Em18 serology. All but two showed favorable outcomes on the last follow-up. Conclusion: IACs have little impact on the increase in new AE cases, as well as on the extent of the disease at diagnosis and clinical course.

Successful Management of Combined BK Nephropathy and Nocardiosis in a Renal Transplant Recipient: Case Report

Nocardiosis is a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. The prevalence of the disease ranges from 2.3% to 5% in renal allograft recipients. Here, we describe a case of BK nephropathy associating with nocardiosis with successful recovery. The 54-year-old male patient had end-stage kidney disease due to diabetic nephropathy associated with diabetic retinopathy, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. He started hemodialysis in October 2017; 2 years later, he underwent a deceased donor kidney transplant with 2 HLA mismatches and high panel reactive antibodies. He received desensitization with intravenous immunoglobulin and rituximab, received thymoglobulin as induction, and was maintained on prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus. His serum creatinine decreased to a nadir of 90 μmol/L. He developed graft dysfunction, which was proven to be due to BK nephropathy. Therefore, mycophenolate mofetil was replaced with leflunomide in addition to intravenous immunoglobulin therapy. Ten months later, he had an accidental fall and sought an orthopedic evaluation. Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine and pelvis revealed lumbar spondylosis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, and obturator muscle abscess. He was explored surgically, but the surgeon found no abscess or avascular hip necrosis. The patient's blood grew Nocardia, and he was readmitted and started imipenem and linezolid empirically. Brain and chest computed tomography scans ruled out any central nervous system or pulmonary involvement, but a bone scan revealed osteomyelitis of the right superior pubic ramus and prepubic swelling, which was confirmed by computed tomography to be an abscess in both obturator externus and internus. He continued the same antibiotics for 6 months based on culture and sensitivity. At follow-up, the patient has shown stable graft function (creatinine 155 μmol/L) with improved BK viremia with immunosuppression minimization. In renal transplant recipients, successful management of combined BK nephropathy and nocardiosis was feasible with minimization of immunosuppression and proper antimicrobial therapy.

Herpes Zoster Risk in Immunocompromised Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

The primary reported risk factors for herpes zoster (HZ) include increasing age and immunodeficiency, yet estimates of HZ risk by immunocompromising condition have not been well characterized. We undertook a systematic literature review to estimate the HZ risk in immunocompromised patients.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed studies that examined the risk of HZ and associated complications in adult patients with hematopoietic cell transplants (HCT), cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and solid organ transplant (SOT). We identified studies in PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane, Scopus, and clinicaltrials.gov that presented original data from the United States and were published after 1992. We assessed the risk of bias with Cochrane or Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methods.

RESULTS

We identified and screened 3765 records and synthesized 34 studies with low or moderate risks of bias. Most studies that were included (32/34) reported at least 1 estimate of the HZ cumulative incidence (range, 0-41%). There were 12 studies that reported HZ incidences that varied widely within and between immunocompromised populations. Incidence estimates ranged from 9 to 92 HZ cases/1000 patient-years and were highest in HCT, followed by hematologic malignancies, SOT, and solid tumor malignancies, and were lowest in people living with HIV. Among 17 HCT studies, the absence of or use of antiviral prophylaxis at <1 year post-transplant was associated with a higher HZ incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

HZ was common among all immunocompromised populations studied, exceeding the expected HZ incidence among immunocompetent adults aged ≥60 years. Better evidence of the incidence of HZ complications and their severity in immunocompromised populations is needed to inform economic and HZ vaccine policies.

Burden and Timeline of Infectious Diseases in the First Year After Solid Organ Transplantation in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study

Background

The burden and timeline of posttransplant infections are not comprehensively documented in the current era of immunosuppression and prophylaxis.

Methods

In this prospective study nested within the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study (STCS), all clinically relevant infections were identified by transplant–infectious diseases physicians in persons receiving solid organ transplant (SOT) between May 2008 and December 2014 with ≥12 months of follow-up.

Results

Among 3541 SOT recipients, 2761 (1612 kidney, 577 liver, 286 lung, 213 heart, and 73 kidney-pancreas) had ≥12 months of follow-up; 1520 patients (55%) suffered 3520 infections during the first year posttransplantation. Burden and timelines of clinically relevant infections differed between transplantations. Bacteria were responsible for 2202 infections (63%) prevailing throughout the year, with a predominance of Enterobacteriaceae (54%) as urinary pathogens in heart, lung, and kidney transplant recipients, and as digestive tract pathogens in liver transplant recipients. Enterococcus spp (20%) occurred as urinary tract pathogens in kidney transplant recipients and as digestive tract pathogens in liver transplant recipients, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (9%) in lung transplant recipients. Among 1039 viral infections, herpesviruses predominated (51%) in kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients. Among 263 fungal infections, Candida spp (60%) prevailed as digestive tract pathogens in liver transplant recipients. Opportunistic pathogens, including Aspergillus fumigatus (1.4%) and cytomegalovirus (6%), were rare, scattering over 12 months across all SOT recipients.

Conclusions

In the current era of immunosuppression and prophylaxis, SOT recipients experience a high burden of infections throughout the first year posttransplantation, with rare opportunistic pathogens and a predominance of bacteria.

Late complications of pancreas transplant

To summarize the long-term complications after pancreas transplantation that affect graft function, a literature search was carried out on the long-term complications of pancreatic transplantation, namely, complications from postoperative 3^rd mo onwards, in terms of loss of graft function, late infection and vascular complications as pseudoaneurysms. The most relevant reviews and studies were selected to obtain the current evidence on these topics. The definition of graft failure varies among different studies, so it is difficult to evaluate, a standardized definition is of utmost importance to know the magnitude of the problem in all worldwide series. Chronic rejection is the main cause of long-term graft failure, occurring in 10% of patients. From the 3rd mo of transplantation onwards, the main risk factor for late infections is immunosuppression, and patients have opportunistic infections like: Cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C viruses, Epstein-Barr virus and varicella-zoster virus; opportunistic bacteria, reactivation of latent infections as tuberculosis or fungal infections. Complete preoperative studies and serological tests should be made in all recipients to avoid these infections, adding perioperative prophylactic treatments when indicated. Pseudoaneurysm are uncommon, but one of the main causes of late bleeding, which can be fatal. The treatment should be performed with radiological endovascular approaches or open surgery in case of failure. Despite all therapeutic options for the complications mentioned above, transplantectomy is a necessary option in approximately 50% of relaparotomies, especially in life-threatening complications. Late complications in pancreatic transplantation threatens long-term graft function. An exhaustive follow-up as well as a correct immunosuppression protocol are necessary for prevention.

Implementation of the Nursing Process Based on Betty Neuman Model in Kidney Transplant Patients: A Study in the Field

Background: Proper use of nursing models and theories is an important step in improving patient care standards and quality of life. The growing trend of kidney failure and subsequent kidney transplantation in the country shows the importance of creating a proper structure in nursing patient care for transplant patients and recognizing the stressors that affect these patients. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the ability of the Betty Neuman model to provide a comprehensive model for nursing care of clients undergoing kidney transplantation. Methods: This clinical and clinical study was performed on the client of the kidney transplant candidate based on the application of Betty Neuman system theory. During the data collection, the interactions between the client’s five variables were examined and the stressors and resources in the internal, inter, and extra-individual domains were identified. Nursing diagnoses were created in accordance with the North American International Nursing Diagnostics Association (2018 - 2018) classification, and then nursing interventions were designed and implemented at three levels of prevention. Results: The results of the study of physiological, psychological, social, evolutionary, and spiritual variables, as well as interpersonal and extra-individual stressors, were 7 potential and actual nursing diagnoses. Conclusions: Designing and applying a nursing process based on this model is a holistic and systematic attitude toward the client that requires proper, efficient, and evidence-based nursing care but increases the need for nursing human resources.

Opportunistic Infections and Efficacy Following Conversion to Belatacept-Based Therapy after Kidney Transplantation: A French Multicenter Cohort

Conversion from calcineurin-inhibitors (CNIs) to belatacept can help kidney-transplant (KT) recipients avoid CNI-related nephrotoxicity. The risk of associated opportunistic infections (OPIs) is ill-defined. We conducted a multicentric cohort study across 15 French KT-centers in a real-life setting. Between 07-2010 and 07-2019, 453 KT recipients were converted from CNI- to belatacept-based therapy at 19 [0.13-431] months post-transplantation. Most patients, i.e., 332 (79.3%), were converted after 6-months post-transplantation. Follow-up time after conversion was 20.1 +/- 13 months. OPIs developed in 42(9.3%) patients after 14 +/- 12 months post-conversion. Eight patients (19%) had two OPI episodes during follow-up. Incidences of CMV DNAemia and CMV disease were significantly higher in patients converted before 6-months post-KT compared to those converted later (i.e., 31.6% vs. 11.5%; p < 0.001; and 11.6% vs. 2.4%, p < 0.001, respectively). Cumulative incidence of OPIs was 6.5 OPIs/100 person-years. Incidence of CMV disease was 2.8/100 person-years, of pneumocystis pneumonia 1.6/100 person-years, and of aspergillosis 0.2/100 person-years. Multivariate analyses showed that estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) < 25 mL/min/1.73 m² at conversion was independently associated with OPIs (HR = 4.7 (2.2 - 10.3), p < 0.001). The incidence of EBV DNAemia was 17.3 events /100 person-years. At 1-year post-conversion, mean eGFR had significantly increased from 32.0 +/- 18 mL/min/1.73 m² to 42.2 +/- 18 mL/min/1.73 m² (p < 0.0001). Conversion to belatacept is an effective strategy with a low infectious risk.

Opportunistic Infections in Transplant Patients

Transplants have become common with excellent patient and graft outcomes owing to advances in surgical technique, immunosuppression, and antimicrobial prophylaxis. In 2017, 34,770 solid organ transplants were performed in the United States. For solid organ transplant recipients, infection remains a common complication owing to the regimens required to prevent rejection. Opportunistic infections, which are infections that are generally of lower virulence within a healthy host but cause more severe and frequent disease in immunosuppressed individuals, typically occur in the period 1 month to 1 year after transplantation. This article focuses on opportunistic infections in the solid organ transplant recipient.

Machine learning for the prediction of severe pneumonia during posttransplant hospitalization in recipients of a deceased-donor kidney transplant

Background

Pneumonia accounts for the majority of infection-related deaths after kidney transplantation. We aimed to build a predictive model based on machine learning for severe pneumonia in recipients of deceased-donor transplants within the perioperative period after surgery.

Methods

We collected the features of kidney transplant recipients and used a tree-based ensemble classification algorithm (Random Forest or AdaBoost) and a nonensemble classifier (support vector machine, Naïve Bayes, or logistic regression) to build the predictive models. We used the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) to evaluate the predictive performance via ten-fold cross validation.

Results

Five hundred nineteen patients who underwent transplantation from January 2015 to December 2018 were included. Forty-three severe pneumonia episodes (8.3%) occurred during hospitalization after surgery. Significant differences in the recipients' age, diabetes status, HBsAg level, operation time, reoperation, usage of anti-fungal drugs, preoperative albumin and immunoglobulin levels, preoperative pulmonary lesions, and delayed graft function, as well as donor age, were observed between patients with and without severe pneumonia (P<0.05). We screened eight important features correlated with severe pneumonia using the recursive feature elimination method and then constructed a predictive model based on these features. The top three features were preoperative pulmonary lesions, reoperation and recipient age (with importance scores of 0.194, 0.124 and 0.078, respectively). Among the machine learning algorithms described above, the Random Forest algorithm displayed better predictive performance, with a sensitivity of 0.67, specificity of 0.97, positive likelihood ratio of 22.33, negative likelihood ratio of 0.34, AUROC of 0.91, and AUPRC of 0.72.

Conclusions

The Random Forest model is potentially useful for predicting severe pneumonia in kidney transplant recipients. Recipients with a potential preoperative potential pulmonary infection, who are of older age and who require reoperation should be monitored carefully to prevent the occurrence of severe pneumonia.

Exploring failure of antimicrobial prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy for transplant recipients: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES

Infections remain a threat for solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients. Antimicrobial prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy have improved survival of these patients; however, the failure rates of prophylaxis are not negligible. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the reasons behind failure of antimicrobial prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy.

SETTING

This systematic review included prospective randomised controlled trials and prospective single-arm studies.

PARTICIPANTS

The studies included were on prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy of opportunistic infections in transplant recipients. Studies were included from databases MEDLINE, CENTRAL and Embase published until October first 2018.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Primary outcome measures were breakthrough infections, adverse events leading to stopping of treatment, switching medication or dose reduction. Secondary outcome measures were acquired resistance to antimicrobials, antifungals or antivirals and death.

RESULTS

From 3317 identified records, 30 records from 24 studies with 2851 patients were included in the systematic review. Seventeen focused on prophylactic and pre-emptive treatment of cytomegalovirus and seven studies on invasive fungal infection. The main reasons for failure of prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy were adverse events and breakthrough infections, which were described in 54% (13 studies) and 38% (9 studies) of the included studies, respectively. In 25%, six of the studies, a detailed description of patients who experienced failure of prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy was unclear or lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that although failure is reported in the studies, the level of detail prohibits a detailed analysis of failure of prophylaxis and pre-emptive therapy. Clearly reporting on patients with a negative outcome should be improved. We have provided guidance on how to detect failure early in a clinical setting in accordance to the results from this systematic review.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42017077606.

Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Outcomes of Opportunistic Infections after Kidney Allograft Transplantation in the Era of Modern Immunosuppression: A Monocentric Cohort Study

Epidemiology of opportunistic infections (OI) after kidney allograft transplantation in the modern era of immunosuppression and the use of OI prevention strategies are poorly described. We retrospectively analyzed a single-center cohort on kidney allograft adult recipients transplanted between January 2008 and December 2013. The control group included all kidney recipients transplanted in the same period, but with no OI. We analyzed 538 kidney transplantations (538 patients). The proportion of OI was 15% (80 and 72 patients). OI occurred 12.8 (6.0–31.2) months after transplantation. Viruses were the leading cause (n = 54, (10%)), followed by fungal (n = 15 (3%)), parasitic (n = 6 (1%)), and bacterial (n = 5 (0.9%)) infections. Independent risk factors for OI were extended criteria donor (2.53 (1.48–4.31), p = 0.0007) and BK viremia (6.38 (3.62–11.23), p < 0.0001). High blood lymphocyte count at the time of transplantation was an independent protective factor (0.60 (0.38–0.94), p = 0.026). OI was an independent risk factor for allograft loss (2.53 (1.29–4.95), p = 0.007) but not for patient survival. Post-kidney transplantation OIs were mostly viral and occurred beyond one year after transplantation. Pre-transplantation lymphopenia and extended criteria donor are independent risk factors for OI, unlike induction therapy, hence the need to adjust immunosuppressive regimens to such transplant candidates.

Diagnostic and therapeutic approach to infectious diseases in solid organ transplant recipients

Purpose

Prognosis of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients has improved, mainly because of better prevention of rejection by immunosuppressive therapies. However, SOT recipients are highly susceptible to conventional and opportunistic infections, which represent a major cause of morbidity, graft dysfunction and mortality.

Methods

Narrative review.

Results

We cover the current epidemiology and main aspects of infections in SOT recipients including risk factors such as postoperative risks and specific risks for different transplant recipients, key points on anti-infective prophylaxis as well as diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We provide an up-to-date guide for management of the main syndromes that can be encountered in SOT recipients including acute respiratory failure, sepsis or septic shock, and central nervous system infections as well as bacterial infections with multidrug-resistant strains, invasive fungal diseases, viral infections and less common pathogens that may impact this patient population.

Conclusion

We provide state-of the art review of available knowledge of critically ill SOT patients with infections.

Incidence Rates and Risk Factors of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Solid Organ and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients

Background

Transplant recipients are an immunologically vulnerable patient group and are at elevated risk of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) compared with other hospitalized populations. However, risk factors for CDI post-transplant are not fully understood.

Methods

Adults undergoing solid organ (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) from January 2010 to February 2017 at Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark, were retrospectively included. Using nationwide data capture of all CDI cases, the incidence and risk factors of CDI were assessed.

Results

A total of 1687 patients underwent SOT or HSCT (1114 and 573, respectively), with a median follow-up time (interquartile range) of 1.95 (0.52–4.11) years. CDI was diagnosed in 15% (164) and 20% (114) of the SOT and HSCT recipients, respectively. CDI rates were highest in the 30 days post-transplant for both SOT and HSCT (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR], 6.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.37–10.10; and aIRR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.83–4.43, respectively, compared with 31–180 days). For SOT recipients, pretransplant CDI and liver and lung transplant were associated with a higher risk of CDI in the first 30 days post-transplant, whereas age and liver transplant were risk factors in the later period. Among HSCT recipients, myeloablative conditioning and a higher Charlson Comorbidity Index were associated with a higher risk of CDI in the early period but not in the late period.

Conclusions

Using nationwide data, we show a high incidence of CDI among transplant recipients. Importantly, we also find that risk factors can vary relative to time post-transplant.

Acute respiratory failure in immunocompromised adults

Acute respiratory failure occurs in up to half of patients with haematological malignancies and 15% of those with solid tumours or solid organ transplantation. Mortality remains high. Factors associated with mortality include a need for invasive mechanical ventilation, organ dysfunction, older age, frailty or poor performance status, delayed intensive care unit admission, and acute respiratory failure due to an invasive fungal infection or unknown cause. In addition to appropriate antibacterial therapy, initial clinical management aims to restore oxygenation and predict the most probable cause based on variables related to the underlying disease, acute respiratory failure characteristics, and radiographic findings. The cause of acute respiratory failure must then be confirmed using the most efficient, least invasive, and safest diagnostic tests. In patients with acute respiratory failure of undetermined cause, a standardised diagnostic investigation should be done immediately at admission before deciding whether to perform more invasive diagnostic procedures or to start empirical treatments. Collaborative and multidisciplinary clinical and research networks are crucial to improve our understanding of disease pathogenesis and causation and to develop less invasive diagnostic strategies and more targeted treatment options.

Fecal microbiota transplantation for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection in patients with solid organ transplants: an institutional experience and review of the literature

Clostridium difficile, an anaerobic gram-positive, spore-forming bacillus, has become the most common cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea, and is associated with increased mortality in all populations. Patients who have received solid organ transplants (SOT) are at increased risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and CDI recurrence (rCDI). This may be related to chronic immunosuppression, frequent antibiotic exposure, and increased or prolonged hospitalizations. Increased morbidity and mortality from CDI is well-described in SOT patients. Conventional treatments for index and recurrent CDI include vancomycin and fidaxomicin. Fecal microbiota transplantation has emerged as an effective and safe alternative for treating rCDI in the general population. Reports of its safety in certain immunocompromised populations, such as those with inflammatory bowel disease, appear reassuring, but outcomes among SOT patients are less well known. Here, we summarize the experiences published to date on the treatment of rCDI with FMT in SOT patient, and also describe our detailed FMT protocol and experience in treating a series of SOT patients with rCDI. In addition to reporting the safety and efficacy of our FMT experience, we also discuss the diagnostic challenges and considerations in this population of solid organ transplant recipients.