title: [Infectious complications in cardiac transplantation: Lausanne experience].
abstract: Infectious complications, a major cause of morbidity and mortality after heart transplantation, were reviewed in 49 heart transplant patients at Lausanne. The follow-up lasted 32 months on average. 43 patients (88%) presented 108 infections (2.20 episodes of infection/patient). 38 severe infections (0.78 episodes/patient) were diagnosed in 27 patients (55%). 2 of the 9 deaths which occurred were due to infection. The viruses, principally of the herpes group, were responsible for 37% of all the infections, and bacteria for 28%. About a third of the viral and bacterial infections were severe. The other documented infections were caused by fungi (13%), which were most often responsible for superficial infections, and rarely by protozoa (5%). Finally, in 17% of infectious episodes, the pathogen could not be identified. Cytomegalovirus was the pathogen the most frequently responsible in severe infections. The highest incidence of infections occurred during the first 2-3 months after transplantation and was reduced considerably after the 6th month. The distribution of different pathogens was related to specific periods after the transplant. Our results confirm that infection is a major complication of heart transplantation. Clinical and prophylactic aspects of some infections are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Division de cardiologie, Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois (CHUV), Lausanne.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menafoglio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cometta
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Berguer
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stumpe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Genton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kappenberger
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Goy
mesh_terms: D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000453:epidemiology; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000453:epidemiology
vernacular_title: Complications infectieuses du transplanté cardiaque: expérience lausannoise.