| Theme |
Necessary kidney transplant knowledge for the dialysis staff, 2013 |
| Title |
Post-kidney transplant infections |
| Author |
Hiroshi Harada |
Department of Kidney Transplant Surgery, Sapporo City General Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
Kidney transplant recipients are prone to infections due to various invasive or preexisting microbial organisms. These opportunistic infections occur because of continuous immunosuppressant intake. Background diseases and perioperative damage can be causes of post-transplant infections. Pneumococcus and Pneumocystis jirovecii are typical causal organisms after kidney transplantation. Viruses belonging to the category herpesviridae are the most common viruses causing opportunistic infections. The cytomegalovirus damages various organs. The varicella zoster virus, which is dormant in neural cells often causes recurrent herpes and is a frequent cause of mortal encephalitis. The Epstein-Barr virus is known to be a virus responsible for post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. The BK virus impairs graft function through subsequent nephritis. Preoperative vaccination and proper dosage adjustment of immunosuppressants are important to minimize the development of post-transplant infections by microbes. |