Antimicrobial and immunomodulatory attributes of statins: relevance in solid-organ transplant recipients

Statins are increasingly being used to treat solid-organ transplant recipients for posttransplantation metabolic complications. In addition to improving dyslipidemia, statins also have manifold non-lipid-lowering effects. With regard to sepsis or infection, these agents modify the inflammatory cascades by pleiotropic actions at multiple levels and exhibit activities against opportunistic bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can cause serious infections in solid-organ transplant recipients. They also have synergistic interactions with antimicrobial agents. Statins with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory attributes might improve morbidity and mortality attributable to sepsis or infection in solid-organ transplant recipients.