Nontuberculous mycobacterium infection in renal transplant recipients: a systematic review

Abstract

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) infections are important complications in renal transplant recipients.Methods: Cases of NTM diseases post-renal transplantation published in English were identified in the PubMed database. The clinical and laboratory characteristics of these cases were reviewed.Results: One-hundred and fifteen cases of NTM infection in renal transplant recipients in 100 articles were identified. The median time of NTM infection from renal transplantation was 37 months (range, 3 d to 252 months). Disseminated disease (40.0%) was the most common manifestation of NTM infection in renal transplant recipients. The main diagnostic procedure was culture combined with histopathological examination (38.3%). Thirteen NTM species were identified; the most common pathogen was Mycobacterium chelonae (19.1%). The anti-Mycobacterium treatment lasted more than 12 months in 43.3% of the recorded patients. During the treatment, 30.2% of the recipients lost kidney graft function and 20.9% died from NTM infection and/or other complications, including cardiac death and respiratory failure.Conclusions: NTM infection is easily neglected. Physicians must keep a high suspicion for NTM infections in renal transplant recipients.