Legionella infections in cyclosporine-immunosuppressed cardiac transplants

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 23, 2026

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS
08:38

Quantification of the Immunosuppressant Tacrolimus on Dried Blood Spots Using LC-MS/MS

Published on: November 8, 2015

A Favor1, O H Frazier, D A Cooley

  • 1Transplantation Unit, Division of Surgery, Texas Heart Institute of St. Luke's and Texas Children's Hospitals, Houston, Texas 77225, USA.

Texas Heart Institute Journal
|June 1, 1985
PubMed

Insights

Transplant patients face risks from opportunistic infections like Legionella pneumophila. Early diagnosis and tailored treatment, including immunosuppression management, are crucial for survival.

Area of Science:

  • Medical microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Transplant medicine

Background:

  • Transplant recipients are susceptible to opportunistic pulmonary infections from various pathogens.
  • Rare infectious agents pose significant clinical challenges in immunocompromised patients.
  • Legionella pneumophila is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause severe infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report on cases of Legionella pneumophila infection in transplant patients.
  • To highlight the importance of early diagnosis and aggressive management.
  • To emphasize the role of immunosuppression management in patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Case series reporting on four episodes of infection.
  • Clinical management involved early diagnosis and aggressive therapy.
  • Immunosuppression protocols were adjusted for affected patients.

Main Results:

  • Three transplant patients experienced four episodes of Legionella pneumophila infection.
  • All patients survived the infection.
  • Successful outcomes were attributed to prompt diagnosis and management.

Conclusions:

  • Legionella pneumophila can cause opportunistic infections in transplant recipients.
  • Effective management includes early diagnosis, aggressive treatment, and careful adjustment of immunosuppression.
  • Improved patient survival is achievable with comprehensive care strategies.

Related Concept Videos

Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

Cryptococcal Meningitis

Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
Cytomegalovirus Disease01:27

Cytomegalovirus Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management01:16

Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management

Postoperative Nursing Management for Kidney Transplant PatientsPostoperative nursing management care includes monitoring the surgical site, encouraging early movement, and promoting lung health through breathing exercises. Nurses also administer prescribed medications like H2-blockers, such as famotidine, or proton pump inhibitors, like omeprazole, to help prevent gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Fungal infections in the mouth and bladder can result from immunosuppressive and antibiotic...
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...