Nocardiosis in recipients of renal transplants: Evidence for nosocomial acquisition

Abstract

Nocardiosis is a well-described, potentially life-threatening complication of renal transplantation.‘” Although mention is made of possible modes of transmission of this opportunistic infection, only two previously reported studies have addressed the issue of nosocomial transmission.4s 5 Both studies investigated nocardiosis in immunosuppressed patients, with the initial outbreak4 involving three outpatients with underlying lymphoma or leukemia. The second, more recent outbreak’ occurred in seven patients housed in a renal transplant unit in a London hospital in 1979. We report three cases of nocardiosis in patients who have received renal transplants, and at least two of them may have had infections caused by the same strain of Nocardia asteroides. Furthermore, compiled data seem to indicate that patients who have received renal transplants may be at higher risk of manifesting nocardial infection in the early posttransplantation period if the infection is acquired nosocomially.