A comparison of airway microbiota in donors and recipients of lung transplants

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigation of relationships between bronchial washing culture in post-transplant recipient and bronchial flora of the lung donor. Methods. A comparative analysis of bronchial washing cultures from 30 post-transplant lung recipients was performed. All lung donors were stratified to ideal, suboptimal and marginal donors according to the lung transplant suitability. Results. As a result, development of post-transplant pulmonary complications was directly related to bacterial flora of the donor lung. The incidence of pneumonia in post-transplant patients was 3.3% after transplantation of ideal donor lungs, 20% after transplantation of suboptimal donors lungs and 100% after transplantation of marginal donor lungs. Conclusion. The rate of pneumonia in transplanted lungs was directly related to bronchial flora in the donor lungs. This should be taken into account when planning antibacterial therapy after lung transplantation.