Burden of infectious diseases in children during the first year after solid organ transplantation

Area of Science:

• Pediatric medicine
• Infectious diseases
• Transplant surgery

Background:

• Infections pose a significant threat to pediatric solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, contributing to morbidity and mortality.
• Limited comprehensive data exists on infection patterns in this vulnerable population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence, types, and risk factors of infections in pediatric SOT recipients during the first year post-transplant.
• To identify associations between infection risk and patient/transplant characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Prospective analysis of a Swiss national cohort of pediatric SOT recipients (0-18 years) from 2008-2022.
• Standardized definitions were used to track clinically relevant infections within the first year post-transplant.
• Multivariate analysis assessed associations with age, organ type, and rejection episodes.

Main Results:

• 53% of 285 pediatric SOT recipients had at least one infection in the first year (1.36 infections/person/year).
• Viral infections (53%) predominated, followed by bacterial (41%) and fungal (6%).
• Liver and lung transplant recipients had higher infection rates; male sex and transplant type were associated with increased risk.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric SOT recipients face a substantial infection burden, necessitating specific prevention and management strategies.
• Early recognition and coordinated care are crucial to reduce infection-related morbidity in these patients.