Infectious complications after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: Sheikha Badryia Center, Kuwait

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Transplant Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is a critical treatment for hematological disorders.
• Post-transplant infections remain a significant challenge, impacting patient outcomes.
• Effective infection surveillance and prophylaxis are crucial in SCT centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the incidence and management of post-transplant infections in allogeneic SCT recipients.
• To evaluate the outcomes of infection treatment in this patient cohort.
• To share clinical experience from a transplant center in Kuwait.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 21 patients undergoing allogeneic SCT from HLA-identical sibling donors.
• Infection surveillance pre-transplant and strict prophylaxis protocols were employed.
• Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis included cyclosporine and methotrexate.

Main Results:

• Twenty-one patients received SCT for hematological disorders; 90.2% developed confirmed post-transplant infections.
• Eighty-one percent experienced febrile episodes, often with low microbial culture yields.
• A single patient (4.8%) died due to infections and chronic GVHD.

Conclusions:

• High incidence of post-transplant infections observed, characterized by frequent febrile episodes.
• Effective treatment strategies led to a low mortality rate related to infections.
• Clinical experience highlights the importance of vigilant infection management in allogeneic SCT.