title: Mycobacterial infections in renal allograft recipients.
abstract: Primary mycobacterial infections developed in five of 565 patients who had transplants during a 15-year period. All had negative PPDs and normal chest roentgenograms; none had tuberculosis before transplantation. Atypical mycobacteria were cultured in three of five infections. All were treated with a multiple-drug regimen, including isoniazid, rifampin, ethambutol, and streptomycin sulfate. In four of five patients, there were serious drug-related complications. No major initial alteration of immunosuppressive therapy was necessary in any of the patients. During the study, a treatment policy was followed that included one year of isoniazid treatment of all recipients with a positive PPD, history of tuberculosis, chest x-ray film suggestive of tuberculosis, or PPD-positive donor. An additional 14 transplant recipients were treated in accordance with this policy without complications or subsequent mycobacterial infections (32-month average follow-up). Despite the low incidence of mycobacterial infection in this series, the potential lethality and morbidity mandate constant vigilance.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D011292:Premedication; D011300:Preoperative Care
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents