Fatal Invasive Mold Infections after Transplantation of Organs Recovered from Drowned Donors, United States,...

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Transplant Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• Organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure.
• Organ donors, particularly those who drowned, may be exposed to environmental molds.
• Transmission of molds via transplanted organs can cause severe infections in recipients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report cases of fatal invasive mold infections in transplant recipients potentially linked to donor organs.
• To emphasize the risk of donor-derived mold infections.
• To highlight the importance of clinical suspicion in transplant recipients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series analysis.
• Review of clinical data from four transplant recipients.
• Microbiological and pathological examination of donor organs and recipients.

Main Results:

• Four cases of rapidly fatal invasive mold infections were identified in transplant recipients.
• Infections were potentially linked to organs from drowned donors exposed to environmental molds.
• The causative mold species were identified through diagnostic testing.

Conclusions:

• Invasive mold infections can be a serious complication following organ transplantation from potentially contaminated donors.
• Maintaining a high index of clinical suspicion is vital for diagnosing and managing these infections.
• Further research into screening and prevention strategies is warranted.