Infectious enteritis after intestinal transplantation: incidence, timing, and outcome

The study reviews the incidence, timing, and outcome of infectious enteritis (IE) after intestinal transplantation (ITx).

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent ITx at a single institution between 1991 and 2003 was undertaken using database and medical records. Standard statistical analyses were performed.

Of 33 ITx recipients, 13 (39%) developed 20 culture- or biopsy-proven episodes of IE. Recipient demographics included the following: 10 males, median age 34 (10-585) months, 11 liver + intestine grafts, and two isolated intestine grafts. Infections were diagnosed a median of 76 days (32-1,800 days) after ITx. There were 14 viral (one cytomegalovirus, eight rotavirus, four adenovirus, one Epstein-Barr virus), three bacterial (Clostridium difficile), and three protozoal (one Giardia lamblia, two Cryptosporidium) infections. The bacterial infections tended to present earlier than the viral infections, and the most frequent presenting symptom was diarrhea. Complete resolution was achieved in 17 (94%) incidences with the appropriate antimicrobial or conservative therapy. It was interesting that there were seven rejection episodes documented by biopsy at the approximate time of diagnosis of IE. There were two graft losses: one because of adenoviral enteritis and one because of rejection after rotavirus enteritis. Three-year patient survival is 74% with no deaths directly attributable to IE.

IE can occur in 39% of recipients after ITx. Viral agents are the cause in two thirds of the cases. With supportive care and appropriate treatment, resolution is possible in the majority of cases. Differentiating rejection and infection on histopathology can be difficult and relies on cultures and immunostaining.