title: Epidemiology, outcomes, and mortality predictors of invasive mold infections among transplant recipients: a 10-year, single-center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiology of invasive mold infections (IMI) in transplant recipients differs based on geography, hosts, preventative strategies, and methods of diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective observational study to evaluate the epidemiology of proven and probable IMI, using prior definitions, among all adult hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients in the era of "classic" culture-based diagnostics (2000-2009). Epidemiology was evaluated before and after an initiative was begun to increase bronchoscopy in HSCT recipients after 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 106 patients with one IMI were identified. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) was the most common IMI (69; 65.1%), followed by mucormycosis (9; 8.5%). The overall rate of IMI (and IA) was 3.5% (2.5%) in allogeneic HSCT recipients. The overall incidence for IMI among lung, kidney, liver, and heart transplant recipients was 49, 2, 11, and 10 per 1000 person-years, respectively. The observed rate of IMI among human leukocyte antigen-matched unrelated and haploidentical HSCT recipients increased from 0.6% annually to 3.0% after bronchoscopy initiation (P < 0.05). The 12-week mortality among allogeneic HSCT, liver, kidney, heart, and lung recipients with IMI was 52.4%, 47.1%, 27.8%, 16.7%, and 9.5%, respectively. Among allogeneic HSCT (odds ratio [OR]: 0.07, P = 0.007) and SOT (OR: 0.22, P = 0.05) recipients with IA, normal platelet count was associated with improved survival. Male gender (OR: 14.4, P = 0.007) and elevated bilirubin (OR: 5.7, P = 0.04) were significant predictors of mortality for allogeneic HSCT and SOT recipients with IA, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During the era of culture-based diagnostics, observed rates of IMI were low among all transplants except lung transplant recipients, with relatively higher mortality rates. Diagnostic aggressiveness and host variables impact the reported incidence and outcome of IMI and likely account for institutional variability in multicenter studies. Definitions to standardize diagnoses among SOT recipients are needed.
authors: Department of Medicine, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA. dneofyt1@jhmi.edu
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Neofytos
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Treadway
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Ostrander
authors: C D
authors: CD
authors: Alonso
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Dierberg
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Nussenblatt
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Durand
authors: C B
authors: CB
authors: Thompson
authors: K A
authors: KA
authors: Marr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality*; D016377:Organ Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult