title: Transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by Organ Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article describes transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by solid organ transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed medical records and performed molecular genotyping of isolates to determine potential for donor transmission of Cryptococcus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryptococcosis was diagnosed in 3 recipients of organs from a common donor with an undifferentiated neurologic condition at the time of death. Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis was later diagnosed in the donor at autopsy. The liver and 1 kidney recipient developed cryptococcemia and pneumonia and the other kidney recipient developed cryptococcemia and meningitis; 2 patients recovered with prolonged antifungal therapy. We tested 4 recipient isolates with multilocus sequence typing and found they had identical alleles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our investigation documents the transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by organ transplantation. Evaluation for cryptococcosis in donors with unexplained neurologic symptoms should be strongly considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. jbaddley@uab.edu
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Baddley
authors.forename: Denise C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Schain
authors.forename: Asmita A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gupte
authors.forename: Sundus A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Lodhi
authors.forename: Liise K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Kayler
authors.forename: João P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Frade
authors.forename: Shawn R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lockhart
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiller
authors.forename: J Steve
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bynon
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bower
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003453:Cryptococcosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058889:Molecular Typing; D016533:Mycological Typing Techniques; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*