Rotavirus enteritis in solid organ transplant recipients: an underestimated problem?
BACKGROUND
Diarrhea in solid organ transplantation can be a complication with a high morbidity and mortality. Rotavirus (RV) infection normally occurs in children up to 3 years of age and often presents with severe diarrhea; however, it can also affect adults. We investigated the prevalence and outcome of RV infections in both adult and pediatric patients after solid organ transplantation.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of RV-related enteritis in solid organ transplant recipients with a minimum of a 1-year follow-up from a single center between 2000 and 2004.


RESULTS
Within our cohort of 1303 solid organ transplants, RV infection was observed in 19 patients (1.5%); 14 of these were liver recipients. Infection was most prevalent among pediatric liver recipients, with 52% (11/21) of the children affected. Five adults acquired the infection during their initial hospitalization. Two adult patients had to be readmitted following late-onset RV infection. In all cases, infection was self-limiting, but led to prolonged hospitalization because of significant loss of fluids and electrolytes.


CONCLUSIONS
RV enteritis is a common infection in pediatric solid organ recipients but may also affect adult patients.
Stelzmueller
I
I
Department of General and Transplant Surgery, Innsbruck University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria.
Wiesmayr
S
S
Swenson
B R
BR
Biebl
M
M
Goegele
H
H
Margreiter
R
R
Bonatti
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001317:Austria; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D012401:Rotavirus; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology