title: Epidemiology and clinical impact of infection in patients awaiting heart transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology and clinical impact of infections in patients awaiting heart transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated all patients considered for a heart transplant in our center over a period of 18 months over a period of 18 months from 2007 to 2009. The patients were followed up for 8 months or until death, transplant, or loss to follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety patients were included in the study. During follow-up, 25 infections were recorded in 22 heart transplant candidates (24.4%). Respiratory infections were the most frequent infection (12 bronchitis; 48.0%), followed by skin and soft tissue infections (four infections; 16.0%), intra-abdominal infections (four infectious diarrhea; 16.0%), bacteremia (three infections; 12.0%), and urinary tract infections (two infections; 2.0%). Age, comorbidity, sex, and diabetes were not found to be risk factors for infection. Twenty-four patients (26.7%) were transplanted during follow-up. Infection before transplantation was not associated with an increased risk of mortality or a higher rate of infection in the immediate post-transplant period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infections are common in heart transplant candidates, affecting almost 25% of them. Respiratory tract infections are the most frequent type of infection. However, they are not associated with increased mortality in the immediate post-transplant period.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Unit, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía - IMIBIC, Córdoba, Spain. marcelinogonzalezpadilla@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marcelino
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: González-Padilla
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Castón
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vidal
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arizón
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montejo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rivero
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Torre-Cisneros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Heart transplantation; Infection; Waiting list