Transplantation and tropical infectious diseases

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Transplantation Medicine
• Global Health

Background:

• Increasing international travel and migration are leading to a rise in transplant recipients with tropical infectious diseases.
• Geographically restricted organisms pose a growing threat to transplant populations.
• Tropical infections in transplant patients can originate from donors, reactivation, or de novo acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the association between tropical infectious diseases (parasitic and non-parasitic) and solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
• To highlight the increasing prevalence of these infections in transplant recipients.
• To propose potential screening guidelines for tropical infections in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review and discussion.
• Analysis of parasitic (protozoa, helminths) and non-parasitic (viral, bacterial, fungal) tropical infections.
• Consideration of transmission routes: donor-related, reactivation, and de novo acquisition.

Main Results:

• Solid-organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients are at risk for a spectrum of tropical infections.
• Infections can be transmitted via grafts, blood products, reactivation of latent infections, or new infections post-transplant.
• The review synthesizes information on various tropical pathogens affecting transplant recipients.

Conclusions:

• Transplant recipients represent a growing population susceptible to tropical infectious diseases.
• Effective management requires understanding transmission routes and pathogen types.
• Development and implementation of targeted screening protocols are crucial for patient safety.