Health Care-Associated Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

Health care-associated infection (HAI) represent a global health problem with an increase in hospital stays, deaths, and monetary costs. Recipients of solid organ transplants are a population at risk. The objectives of the study were to characterize the incidence of HAI in renal and hepatic transplant recipients as well as to compare them with the population without transplants in intensive care units (ICU).

The data on the incidence of HAI, localization, microorganisms, and demographics were taken from the patients admitted between the years 2013 to 2018 (n = 4307) from the registration of the Project for the Reduction of Nosocomial Infection in Intensive Care Units. The variables were compared with those of renal transplant (n = 96) and liver transplants (n = 68) recipients.

Renal transplant recipients showed 26% incidence of HAI. The most frequent were surgical site infection (SSI), urinary tract infection, and primary bacteremia; the most frequent microorganism was Staphylococcus spp, mortality 3.8%. Liver transplant recipients showed 41% incidence of HAI. The most frequent were tracheobronchitis associated with mechanical ventilation, SSI, and primary bacteremia; the most frequent microorganism was Staphylococcus spp, mortality 37%. The population without transplants in the ICU showed 17% incidence of HAI. The most frequent were respiratory infections associated with mechanical ventilation, primary bacteremia, and SSI; the most frequent microorganism was Acinetobacter spp, mortality 21%.

HAI in recipients of solid organ transplants (renal and hepatic) have a higher incidence than in a population without transplants. The location and causal microorganisms have particularities that must be taken into account for the development of prevention protocols.