[Pulmonary fungal infection after renal transplantation: analysis of 40 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the clinical characteristics, therapeutic measures and risk factors of pulmonary fungal infection in patients after renal transplantation.


METHODS
The clinical data of 176 patients receiving renal allograft transplantation with postoperative infections were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 40 were diagnosed to have pulmonary fungal infection, and their clinical symptoms, signs, radiographic findings, pathogenic bacterial culture, histopathological examination, and treatments were analyzed.


RESULTS
The 40 recipients with postoperative pulmonary fungal infection included 25 male and 15 female patients with a mean age of 49 years. Twenty-eight of the patients developed pulmonary fungal infection within 6 months after transplantation. Positive pathogen cultivation was reported in 19 cases, and Candida albicans was detected in 11 cases, Candida krusei in 2 cases, Candida glabrata in 3 cases, Candida tropicalis in 1 case, aspergillosis in 1 case, and Candida mycoderma in 1 case. Twenty-four of out of the 40 cases were found to have co-infection. All the patients received antifungal drugs and adjuvant treatments, and 38 patients were cured and 2 died.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary fungal infection often occurs within 6 months after renal transplantation. The most common fungal pathogen is Candida albicans, and the patients often had coinfections. Early diagnosis and timely intervention with antifungal drugs and comprehensive measures are critical in the management of pulmonary fungal infection following renal transplantation.
Department of Organ Transplantation, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: yulixin@medmail.com.cn.
Li-Xin
LX
Yu
Ming-Xing
MX
Zeng
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002175:Candida / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008172:Lung Diseases, Fungal / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D000935:Antifungal Agents