Infectious diseases consult improves vaccination adherence in kidney transplant candidates

Vaccines prevent infections and avoid related complications. Low rates in immunocompromised patients are concerning due to increased morbidity. Vaccinations are less effective when administered post-transplant and should be administered prior. We describe pre-transplant vaccination rates among kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant recipients.

Retrospective review including adults receiving kidney or kidney-pancreas allografts at Cleveland Clinic from October 2013 to October 2016. Pre-transplant vaccinations, serologies, and transplant data were collected.

393 patients were included; median age was 53 years with most (46%) being Caucasian males. Influenza vaccination rate was 48%; receipt of at least one pneumococcal vaccine was 77%. Vaccination rates were higher among dialysis patients for pneumococcal, hepatitis B, and varicella vaccines; rates were also higher with infectious diseases consults.

Vaccination rates at our institution for kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant candidates are consistent with previous literature. Rates were higher for candidates with infectious diseases consults or receiving dialysis.