title: Food safety for the solid organ transplant patient: preventing foodborne illness while on chronic immunosuppressive drugs.
abstract: Issues regarding food safety are seen increasingly in the news; outbreaks of foodborne illness have been associated with public health concerns ranging from mild illness to death. For the solid organ transplant patient, immunosuppressive and antibacterial drugs, which maintain transplant organ function, can expose the transplant patient to increased risk of foodborne illness from bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. This review article describes the clinical consequences, sources of foodborne illness, and food safety practices needed to minimize risks to the solid organ transplant patient who must take lifelong immunosuppressive drugs. All members of the transplant team share responsibility for education of the solid organ transplant patient in preventing infections. The registered dietitian, as part of the transplant team, is the recognized expert in providing food safety education in the context of medical nutrition therapy to solid organ transplant patients, the patients' caregivers, and other healthcare providers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, 300 Pasteur Drive, H1207, M/C 5226, Stanford, CA 94305-5226, USA. pobayashi@stanfordmed.org
authors.forename: Patricia A C
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Obayashi
mesh_terms: D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D060766:Drinking Water; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety / Q000379:methods*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents