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Emerging fungal infections in solid organ transplant recipients

Shmuel Shoham1

  • 1Transplant and Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. sshoham1@jhmi.edu

Infectious Disease Clinics of North America
|May 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Emerging rare fungal infections like Zygomycetes and Fusarium are a significant threat to solid organ transplant recipients. Intensive immunosuppression and azole therapy contribute to their rise, necessitating updated treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Transplant Infectious Diseases
  • Immunocompromised Hosts

Background:

  • Solid organ transplant recipients face unique infectious disease challenges.
  • Emerging and rare fungal pathogens pose a significant threat in this population.
  • Factors like intensive immunosuppression and azole use are driving fungal emergence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the epidemiology of emerging fungal infections in transplant recipients.
  • To discuss the microbiology and clinical impact of these fungi.
  • To provide current treatment recommendations for these infections.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of emerging fungal pathogens in solid organ transplant recipients.
  • Analysis of epidemiological trends and risk factors.
  • Synthesis of current microbiological data and clinical case studies.

Main Results:

  • Zygomycetes, Scedosporium, Fusarium, and dark molds are key emerging pathogens.
  • Intensified immunosuppression and prolonged azole therapy are major contributing factors.
  • Aggressive diagnostic methods and environmental exposures also play a role.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the epidemiology and microbiology of these fungi is crucial.
  • Updated treatment guidelines are essential for managing these infections.
  • Multifactorial approaches are needed to mitigate the risk of fungal infections in transplant patients.

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