Invasive fungal infections after renal transplantation

Invasive fungal infection (IFI) is a leading cause of infection-related mortality among kidney allograft recipients.

To estimate the incidence and etiology of systemic fungal infection in renal allograft recipients in Sydney transplant facility.

471 kidney recipients, transplanted between 2000 and 2010 at the Westmead Hospital renal transplantation center, Sydney, Australia, were retrospectively surveyed.

IFI developed in 10 (2.1%) of 471 patients. With a mean±SD new kidney transplants per year of 42.9±13, the mean±SD incidence of IFI was 0.9±0.6 for each year of transplantation. 4 patients had received kidneys from living donors and 7 from cadavers with a mean±SD age of 50.5±14 years. The mean time to IFI was 33 months after transplantation with majority within the first 2 years. Cryptococcus neoformans was responsible for 50% of episodes (n=5) followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (n=3), and Pseudallescheria boydii (n=3); there was a single case of mucurmycosis. Lungs (n=5) followed by meninges (n=4) and skin (n=3) were the most commonly involved sites.

IFI remains a major concern in renal transplantation. A high index of suspicion is required for early diagnosis and treatment to reduce the mortality. In this regard, appropriate diagnostic tests are necessary, particularly for C. neoformans.