title: Endemic and opportunistic infections in Brazilian solid organ transplant recipients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the frequency and clinical features of endemic and other opportunistic infections in liver or kidney transplant recipients in four transplant centres in different geographical areas of Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of medical and laboratory records of four transplant centres on endemic and other opportunistic infections in liver or kidney transplant recipients. Analyses were performed with spss statistical software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2001 to 2006, 1046 kidney and 708 liver transplants were registered in all centres. The average age was 42 years. Among 82 (4.7%) cases with infections, the most frequent was tuberculosis (2.0%), followed by systemic protozoal infections (0.7%), toxoplasmosis (0.4%) and visceral leishmaniasis (0.3%). Systemic fungal infections occurred in 0.6%, of which 0.4% were cryptococcosis and 0.2% were histoplasmosis. Dengue was the only systemic viral infection and was registered in two cases (0.1%), of which one was classified as the classic form and the other as dengue haemorrhagic fever. Nocardiosis was described in one case (0.05%). The infectious agents most frequently associated with diarrhoea were Blastocystis sp., Schistosoma mansoni and Strongyloides stercoralis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Opportunistic Infections in transplant patients have a wide spectrum and may vary from asymptomatic to severe infections with high mortality. A better understanding of the epidemiology of endemic pathogens and clinical manifestations can contribute to the establishment of an early diagnosis as well as correct treatment aimed at decreasing morbidity and mortality.
authors.affiliation: Infections in Immunocompromised Host Group, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. marjorie.mi@gmail.com
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Pierrotti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdala
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Girão
authors.forename: D R T
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ianhez
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bonazzi
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: P F C B C
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Pádua-Neto
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bacchella
authors.forename: A P P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: C F G
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Shikanai-Yasuda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents