Cardiac transplantation and related infections.
Infection is a serious cause of morbidity and mortality in the cardiac transplant patient. Early infections within the first month after transplantation are usually caused by nosocomial pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, and members of Enterobacteriaceae and include pneumonia, urinary-tract and would infections, and bacteremia associated with the use of intravascular devices. Late infections, usually occurring after the first month and within the first year of transplantation, are commonly caused by cytomegalovirus, Pneumocystis carinii, Legionella, and fungi. Because cardiac transplantation has become a well-established treatment for patients with end-stage heart disease, more physicians will be treating these patients and will need to be familiar with the types of infectious complications associated with transplantation.
Gentry
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Infectious Disease Section, St Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Houston, TX 77030.
D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors