Outcome After Lung Transplantation From a Donor With Bacterial Pneumonia Under the Japanese Donor Evaluation System

In Japan, a unique medical consultant system for donor evaluation and management has been developed in an effort to maximize the use of extended criteria donor lungs. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of donor pneumonia (DP) on the outcome after lung transplantation under this system.

Clinical data of 85 patients who underwent deceased donor lung transplantation (41 single and 44 bilateral lung transplants) between August 2012 and March 2018 were reviewed. DP was defined as the recognition of pneumonia on imaging with positive bacterial culture in the airway at the time of transplantation.

Twenty-three transplanted lung grafts were recognized as having DP (27.1%). Serial chest x-rays at the donor hospital did not show deteriorating infiltration or consolidation. The PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio at brain death evaluations were similar between the donor pneumonia (DP) negative (-) and donor pneumonia (DP) positive (+) groups. Perioperative antibiotics were effective against 94% of isolated bacteria. The duration of postoperative antibiotics therapy was longer in the DP (+) group (P = .02). The incidence of primary graft dysfunction and acute rejection, intensive care unit stay, chronic lung allograft dysfunction-free survival, and overall survival were similar between the DP (+) and DP (-) groups.

Transplantation of donor lung grafts harboring pneumonia but having a similar oxygenation level to those without pneumonia was safely performed and did not affect long-term outcome. Appropriate evaluation of serial imaging at donor hospital and suitable perioperative antibiotic management may be reasons for this outcome.