Early Rehospitalization Post-Kidney Transplant Due to Infectious Complications: Can We Predict the Patients at Risk?

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Transplant Surgery
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Rehospitalization post-kidney transplant impacts patient morbidity, graft survival, and healthcare expenses.
• Infections are a leading cause of early rehospitalization, necessitating identification of associated risk factors.
• Understanding these factors can inform preventive strategies and improve transplant outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the incidence of early rehospitalization due to infectious complications after kidney transplantation.
• To characterize the patient population experiencing these readmissions.
• To identify specific risk factors associated with early infectious readmissions.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study design was employed.
• Data from all kidney transplants performed in 2015 were analyzed.
• The primary endpoint was readmission within 3 months post-transplant for infectious causes.

Main Results:

• The study included 141 kidney transplant recipients; 49% were readmitted, with 65% of readmissions attributed to infections.
• Urinary tract infections were the most common (62%), often caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (40%).
• Risk factors for readmission included higher BMI, diabetes mellitus, older donor age, and longer cold ischemia time.

Conclusions:

• A high incidence of early rehospitalization for infectious complications, particularly UTIs from nosocomial agents, was observed.
• Identified risk factors align with those reported in similar studies.
• These findings underscore the need for targeted preventive measures.