Bloodstream infections in organ transplant recipients receiving alemtuzumab: no evidence of occurrence of organisms typically associated with profound T cell depletion.
BACKGROUND
Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD52, a cell surface antigen expressed on B and T lymphocytes, monocytes and NK cells. Its use results in a profound decrease in CD4 positive T lymphocytes. Alemtuzumab is used as induction immunosuppression and therapy for rejection in organ transplant recipients in some centers. We followed a cohort of 449 consecutive transplant recipients who received alemtuzumab to determine the occurrence of bloodstream infections, particularly those previously associated with decrease in CD4 positive T lymphocytes.


METHODS
Fifteen percent (69/449) patients had at least one episode of bloodstream infection. However, no patient had bacteremia with Streptococcus pneumoniae, Listeria monocytogenes, non-typhoidal Salmonella or Mycobacterium avium complex. Fungaemia was rare, occurring in 1.5% of patients. The most common organisms isolated from the blood were Staphylococcus aureus (21 episodes), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (14 episodes), Klebsiella pneumoniae (12 episodes), Enterococcus faecium (11 episodes), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 episodes), Enterococcus faecalis (9 episodes) and Escherichia coli (7 episodes).


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that although alemtuzumab use is associated with profound CD4 positive T lymphocyte depletion, alemtuzumab does not seem to be associated with an increased risk of bloodstream infection with pathogens typically seen in other disorders of CD4 cell depletion, such as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
Silveira
Fernanda P
FP
Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 3601 Fifth Avenue Suite 3A, Falk Medical Building, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
Marcos
Amadeo
A
Kwak
Eun J
EJ
Husain
Shahid
S
Shapiro
Ron
R
Thai
Ngoc
N
McCurry
Kenneth R
KR
Abu-Elmagd
Kareem
K
Paterson
David L
DL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D016469:Fungemia / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000188:drug therapy; D006085:Graft Survival; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D006095:Gram-Positive Cocci / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D008212:Lymphocyte Depletion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000074323:Alemtuzumab