Expert Group Opinion for Urinary Tract Infection in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients in South Asia

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the common infections in solid organ transplant recipients and the most common infection in kidney transplant recipients. UTI in the early posttransplant period is associated with significant morbidity and graft dysfunction. Female gender, advanced age, presence of urinary tract abnormalities, and diabetes mellitus are some of the risk factors for UTI. The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria has made the treatment difficult and one needs to be aware of the local antibiotic resistance pattern when treating empirically. These patients should be treated adequately and those with recurrent UTI would need long-term prophylaxis. Asymptomatic bacteriuria should only be treated if it occurs within the first 2–3 months of transplant, otherwise, it can lead to the emergence of the resistant organism without any benefit. To reduce the risk of UTI after transplant, the Foley's catheter should be removed within 3–5 days, DJ stent should be removed within 2–3 weeks and the recipient should be kept on routine prophylaxis for 6 months.