Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
07:42
An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
Invasive Candidiasis in Liver Transplant Recipients Undergoing Antifungal Prophylaxis
Luiz Felipe de Abreu Guimarães1, Larissa de Oliveira Pereira2, Tainara Moreira Curcio2
1Programa de Transplante Hepático, Hospital Adventista Silvestre, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Transplantation Proceedings
|June 13, 2026
Summary
Invasive candidiasis (IC) occurred in 5.8% of liver transplant (LT) recipients on antifungal prophylaxis (AP). Risk factors like race and reoperation were identified, informing potential empirical antifungal therapy decisions.
Area of Science:
- Transplantation Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Mycology
Background:
- Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a frequent invasive fungal infection (IFI) in liver transplant (LT) recipients.
- Antifungal prophylaxis (AP) reduces IFI incidence post-LT, yet a significant number of LT recipients on AP still develop IC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of IC in high-risk LT recipients receiving AP.
- To identify factors associated with IC development in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective single-center study of high-risk LT recipients from 2015-2020.
- Primary outcome: IC occurrence within 90 days post-LT.
- Secondary outcomes: 30-day mortality post-IC diagnosis and other IFIs within 90 days.
Main Results:
- 10 cases (5.8%) of IC were observed among 171 recipients on AP.
- Non-albicans Candida species were the most common cause of IC, with a 40% 30-day mortality rate.
- IC was more frequent in Black patients, after reoperation, and with more risk factors; it was less frequent in patients with pre-transplant hepatocellular carcinoma.
Conclusions:
- IC affects 5.8% of LT recipients on AP and is linked to high mortality.
- Identified predictive factors for IC can guide decisions on empirical antifungal therapy for high-risk LT recipients on AP.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:20Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
01:15Antifungal Agents
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
Preoperative ManagementThe primary goals of preoperative management in kidney transplantation are to optimize the patient’s metabolic state and prepare them for surgery through diet adjustments, necessary dialysis, and tailored medical treatment. This phase also involves comprehensive infection screening and patient education about the surgical procedure and postoperative care to improve outcomes and adherence.Medical ManagementA comprehensive evaluation is required for both the living donor...
01:24Tissue Transplantation
Tissue transplantation is a significant medical procedure involving the transfer of cells, tissues, or organs from a donor to a recipient, with the primary aim of restoring lost functions. This procedure is crucial in treating a broad spectrum of diseases, including kidney diseases, liver failure, heart disease, and certain types of cancers.
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
The Biology of Tissue Transplantation
The biology of tissue transplantation hinges on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules. These molecules...
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
Postoperative Nursing Management for Kidney Transplant PatientsPostoperative nursing management care includes monitoring the surgical site, encouraging early movement, and promoting lung health through breathing exercises. Nurses also administer prescribed medications like H2-blockers, such as famotidine, or proton pump inhibitors, like omeprazole, to help prevent gastrointestinal ulcers and bleeding. Fungal infections in the mouth and bladder can result from immunosuppressive and antibiotic...