Invasive fungal infections in renal transplant recipients: Epidemiology and risk factors

Abstract

Invasive fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality among renal transplant recipients.

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and risk factors for fungal infections in renal transplant recipients.

We retrospectively evaluated all kidney transplant recipients at our center from December 1988 to June 2010 for the epidemiology, spectrum, risk factors, and mortality of invasive fungal infections.

In 32 patients (10.30 %), at least one fungal infection developed after the transplantation. The most common pathogens causing fungal infections in our patients were Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. The independent risk factors associated with invasive fungal infection episodes were antibiotic treatment within the last 3 months (OR 15.88, 95 % CI 3.90-64.73, p < 0.001), cytomegalovirus infection (OR 18.54, 95 % CI 9.01-38.17, p < 0.001), and the presence of diabetes mellitus (OR 6.01, 95 % CI 2.95-12.25, p < 0.001). Mortality was significantly higher among patients with fungal infections than among other patients (53.10 and 17.80 %, respectively; p < 0.001).

It is difficult to diagnose and treat fungal infections early, and it can be useful to determine independent risk factors in order to identify and treat high-risk patients.