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Travel patterns and risk behavior in solid organ transplant recipients
Andrea K Boggild1, Marie Sano, Atul Humar
1University of Toronto, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, UHN-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Journal of Travel Medicine
|February 11, 2004
Summary
Transplant recipients who travel often engage in risky behaviors and lack adequate protection against travel-related infections. Few transplant patients were fully protected against common travel pathogens like hepatitis A, dengue, and malaria.
Area of Science:
- Transplant medicine
- Infectious diseases
- Travel medicine
Background:
- International travel increases risks of enteric, vector-borne, and bloodborne infections.
- Immunocompromised individuals, including transplant recipients, face higher risks of travel-related illnesses.
- Limited data exists on travel practices and risk behaviors among transplant recipients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To profile transplant recipients who travel.
- To characterize their pre-travel precautions, travel activities, and exposure history.
- To assess the burden of illness in traveling transplant recipients.
Main Methods:
- A standardized and validated questionnaire was used.
- Patients attending a transplant clinic were surveyed about recent travel and risk behaviors.
- 267 transplant recipients participated in the survey.
Main Results:
- 36% of transplant recipients traveled recently, with most on multiple immunosuppressants.
- Only 66% sought pre-travel advice, and few received relevant immunizations or used preventative measures.
- 10% reported risky behaviors, including unsafe injections, body piercing, and casual sexual activity.
Conclusions:
- Solid organ transplant recipients are a unique population of compromised travelers.
- Most traveling transplant recipients lack adequate protection against travel-associated pathogens.
- Improved pre-travel health strategies are crucial for this patient group.