Infection In Renal Transplant Patients Research Articles

Incidence of urinary infection among kidney-transplant recipients

Urinary tract infection is the most common bacterial complication in renal transplant. This study investigated the number of urinary infection in renal transplant patients at a transplant center aimed at improving nursing care in order to minimize the incidence of urinary infection. We analyzed 59 medical records of patients subjected to renal transplant from May to June 2015 at a transplant center in a hospital in northwestern state of Paraná. The prevailing age of the patients was between 50 and 60 years (29%), and the hemodialysis time was up to 24 months (30%). In patients diagnosed with urinary tract infection (36%), the prevalent microorganisms were: Enterobacter cloacae (25%), occurring more frequently in the first month after transplantation (67%). It was concluded the nursing team may to act in the control and prevention of urinary tract infection.

Invasive fungal infections in renal transplant patients: a single center study

Background: Timely diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (IFI) in renal transplant (RT) patients on immunosuppression is often difficult, jeopardizing their life and graft. We reported IFI and their causative fungal agents in post-RT patients.Materials and methods: This was a retrospective 6-year clinical study carried out from 2010 to 2015 on 1900 RT patients. Clinical data included patient-donor demographics, time to onset of infection, risk factors and graft function in terms of serum creatinine (SCr). To identify IFI, we examined bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), blood, tissue, and wound swab samples by conventional mycological methods.Results: IFI were diagnosed in 30 (1.56%) patients on triple immunosuppression, mainly males (n = 25) with mean age of 36.57 ± 11.9 years at 13.12 ± 18.35 months post-RT. Aspergillus species was identified in 11 BAL, one tissue, and one wound specimen each, 30.76% of these were fatal and 15.38% caused graft loss; Candida albicans was in nine BAL, four blood, two wound swab, and one tissue specimens, 25% of these were fatal and 25% had graft loss and one mucor in BAL which was fatal. Seven patients were diabetic, 10 had superadded cytomegalovirus infection, and 15 were anti-rejected.Conclusion: IFI are associated with increased morbidity and mortality in RT patients. Triple immunosuppression, broad spectrum antibiotics for ≥ two weeks, diabetes and superadded infection are added risks for these patients. Prevention, early diagnosis, and appropriate management are necessary to improve their prognosis.

Short-Term Outcome of Untreated Versus Treated Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Renal Transplant Patients

BackgroundInfection of the urinary tract (UTI) is the most common form of bacterial infection in renal transplant patients, but its management is still controversial. We compared symptomatic and asymptomatic bacteriuria, treated or untreated, during two different months (summer or winter). MethodsThis longitudinal, prospective study involved routine urine cultures collected during September 2014 or March 2015. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological characteristics from the patients with positive urine cultures were described. The main outcomes were the need of hospitalization, the bacterial clearance, and the selection of the resistant pathogen. ResultsFrom the 538 urine cultures collected, only 61 were positive urine cultures. Twenty were untreated asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB), 28 were treated AB, and 13 were treated symptomatic bacteriuria. The more prevalent micro-organisms were E coli (27%), K pneumoniae (11%), and E faecalis (7%). There were no differences in the demographic, clinical, and microbiological characteristics depending on the month when the urine cultures were collected. Only 10 patients required hospitalization during follow-up, and all of them belonged to the treated group. Bacterial clearance after the treatment occurred in 20 patients of the 41 treated (48.9%) and spontaneously in 14 of the 20 patients untreated (70%). Of the treated patients, 47.6% developed a new resistance to another antibiotic. ConclusionsOnly 7.6% of the routine urine cultures on renal transplant were positive. Untreated AB did not require hospitalization, and 70% had spontaneous bacterial clearance.

Clinical outcome of norovirus infection in renal transplant patients.

Transplant patients are at increased risk for developing severe norovirus (NoV) infections with secondary complications such as rejection episodes and acute transplant failure. This single-center retrospective study included all kidney transplant patients tested positive for NoV RNA between January 2007 and December 2011. Data were compared to a control group of 528 kidney transplant patients without NoV infection. Sixty-five kidney transplant patients were recorded NoV RNA positive. Of these, 26 patients (40%) presented with acute transplant failure (AKI). In 43 patients (66.2%), dose reduction in immunosuppression was performed, and of 22 patients receiving tacrolimus, four patients (18.2%) showed toxic trough levels above 15ng/mL at time of diagnosis. In three patients (4.6%), indicated therapeutic procedures had to be postponed due to prolonged severe diarrhea. Ten patients (15.4%) developed chronic NoV infection. One-year patient and graft survival in NoV patients and controls was 92.3% and 96.4%, respectively (n.s.). Compared to controls, eGFR was already significantly lower before NoV infection and loss of eGFR relative to baseline over 12 and 36months was significantly higher in NoV-infected patients. In particular, patients initially presenting with AKI experienced a long-term loss of transplant function. Risk factors for NoV infection were immunosuppression containing steroids and antirejection therapy.

High-level viruria as a screening tool for BK virus nephropathy in renal transplant recipients

BackgroundAlthough early monitoring of BK virus infection in renal transplant patients has led to improved outcomes over the past decade, it remains unclear whether monitoring for viremia is the best screening tool for BK virus nephropathy (BKVN). MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 368 renal transplant recipients who had a minimum of 18 months of posttransplantation follow-up. The relationship between the presence of BK viruria and a composite end point of BK viremia/BKVN was established, and the predictive value of high-grade BK viruria for development of viremia/BKVN was determined. ResultsHigh grade of BK viruria was present in 110 (30.1%) of the renal transplant recipients. BK viremia/BKVN was present in 64 (17.4%) patients and was 50 times more likely to be present in patients with high-grade BK viruria. The risk of developing BK viremia/BKVN was 3 times higher in high-grade viruria patients, and viruria preceded viremia by nearly 7 weeks. ConclusionThe presence of high-grade viruria is an early marker for developing BK viremia/BKVN. Detection of high-grade viruria should prompt early allograft biopsy and/or preemptive reduction in immunosuppression.

MP26-15 SYMPTOMATIC URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AFTER CYSTOSCOPY FOR URETERAL STENT REMOVAL

You have accessJournal of UrologyInfections/Inflammation/Cystic Disease of the Genitourinary Tract: Kidney & Bladder II1 Apr 2016MP26-15 SYMPTOMATIC URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS IN RENAL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AFTER CYSTOSCOPY FOR URETERAL STENT REMOVAL Justin Gregg, Caroline Kang, Thomas Talbot, S. Duke Herrell, Roger Dmochowski, and Daniel Barocas Justin GreggJustin Gregg More articles by this author , Caroline KangCaroline Kang More articles by this author , Thomas TalbotThomas Talbot More articles by this author , S. Duke HerrellS. Duke Herrell More articles by this author , Roger DmochowskiRoger Dmochowski More articles by this author , and Daniel BarocasDaniel Barocas More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2016.02.2952AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookTwitterLinked InEmail INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI) is a known complication of cystoscopy with ureteral stent removal. However, little is known about the incidence and risk factors for post-cystoscopy UTI in renal transplant recipients, who likely represent a high-risk cohort. Our aim was to determine the infection rate following cystoscopy with stent removal in this population and identify opportunities for care improvement. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study of office cystoscopies with stent removal in renal transplant recipients performed at a single institution from April 2012 through May 2014. Symptomatic UTI was defined as having a single symptom (fever, urgency, frequency, dysuria, prostate tenderness or suprapubic tenderness) with a culture of 10^5 or more colony-forming units (CFU) per high-power field, or two symptoms with other characteristics such as a positive urinalysis or physician-diagnosed UTI within one month of procedure. Fisher's exact tests were completed to examine associations between patient characteristics (age, race, diabetes, smoking history, prednisone use, and deceased or living donor) and post-transplant outcomes (time to stent removal, readmission, non-genitourinary tract infection, delayed graft function, acute cellular rejection, and post-procedure urinary leak). Use of pre-procedural antibiotics in addition to daily prophylactic trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or dapsone was also evaluated. RESULTS A total of 324 patients underwent outpatient cystoscopy with stent removal. Mean age was 50.0 (SD 13.1) years, and 187 (57.7%) patients were male. Within this group, 200 (61.7%) patients underwent stent removal within four weeks of transplant. 165 (52.5%) patients received a pre-procedural oral fluroquinolone antibiotic dose prior to the procedure. Nine patients had symptomatic UTIs (2.8%), of which three infections (33.3%) were due to quinolone-resistant organisms. Univariate analyses revealed that female sex (P =0.04), was associated with symptomatic UTI. No other patient characteristic or post-operative outcome was associated with symptomatic UTI, including the use of peri-procedural antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of symptomatic UTI after cystoscopy with ureteral stent removal in renal transplant recipients is less than three percent and comparable to post-cystoscopy UTI risk in the general population. Female sex is associated with symptomatic UTI. Further investigation is needed to identify groups most at risk for UTI and other complications. © 2016FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 195Issue 4SApril 2016Page: e359 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016MetricsAuthor Information Justin Gregg More articles by this author Caroline Kang More articles by this author Thomas Talbot More articles by this author S. Duke Herrell More articles by this author Roger Dmochowski More articles by this author Daniel Barocas More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Primary cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients: Not always iatrogenic

Primary cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients: Not always iatrogenic

CD56+ T cells are increased in kidney transplant patients following cytomegalovirus infection

CD56+ T cells previously have been identified as potentially cytotoxic lymphocytes, and relative numbers are increased in some infectious diseases. Relative proportions of CD56+ T cells were measured by flow cytometry in groups of renal transplant patients differing in cytomegalovirus (CMV) status of donor (D) and recipient (R). These measurements were related to episodes of CMV viremia. Patient groups in which recipients (R+) or donors (D+/R-) were CMV+ had significantly higher proportions of CD56+ T cells (5.11 ± 0.69% and 5.42 ± 1.01%, respectively) than the D-/R- group (1.9 ± 0.35%; P = 0.0018 and 0.017, respectively). In the high-risk D+/R- group, it was found that patients who had post-transplant CMV viremia had higher levels than those who remained CMV negative (9.09 ± 2.34% vs. 3.16 ± 1.22%; P = 0.01). CD56+ T cells from R+ and D+/R- groups had higher proportions of both CD4+ and CD8+ cells than the D-/R- group. When activation markers were examined, some CD56+ T cells from both CMV+ groups had a TEM phenotype, with significantly more expressing CD45RO and NKG2C, and less expressing CD28, CD62L, CD127, and CD161 compared to the D-/R- group. Some CD56+ T cells showed specificity for CMV antigens and similar proportions of CD8+ cells were positive for class I HLA-CMV tetramers containing immunodominant CMV peptides compared to the majority CD56- T cells. The results show significant increases in proportions of CD56+ T cells in relation to CMV infection in renal transplant patients and suggest that these cells have a cytotoxic function against CMV-infected cells.

Fungal infections in renal transplant patients.

Organ transplantation has always been considered to be the standard therapeutic interventions in patients with end-stage organ failure. In 2008, more than 29,000 organ transplants were performed in US. Survival rates among transplant recipients have greatly improved due to better understanding of transplant biology and more effective immunosuppressive agents. After transplant, the extent of the immune response is influenced by the amount of interleukin 2 (IL-2) being produced by the T-helper cells. Transplant immunosuppressive therapy primarily targets T cell-mediated graft rejection. Calcineurin inhibitor, which includes cyclosporine, pimecrolimus and tacrolimus, impairs calcineurin-induced up-regulation of IL-2 expression, resulting in increased susceptibility to invasive fungal diseases. This immunosuppressive state allows infectious complication, leading to a high mortality rate. Currently, overall mortality due to invasive fungal infections (IFIs) in solid organ transplant recipients ranges between 25% and 80%. The risk of IFI following renal transplant is associated with the dosage of immunosuppressive agents given, environmental factors and post-transplant duration. Most fungal infections occur in the first 6 months after transplant because of the use of numerous immunosuppressors. Candida spp. and Cryptococcus spp. are the yeasts most frequently isolated, while most frequent filamentous fungi (molds) isolated are Aspergillus spp. The symptoms of systemic fungal infections are non-specific and early detection of fungal infections and proper therapy are important in improving survival and reducing mortality. This article will provide an insight on the risk factors and clinical presentation, compare variation in treatment of IFIs in renal transplant patients, and evaluate the role of prophylactic therapy in this group of patients. We also report the course and management of two renal transplant recipients admitted to Staten Island University Hospital, both of whom developed pulmonary complications secondary to Aspergillus infection.

WU and KI polyomaviruses in respiratory, blood and urine samples from renal transplant patients

BackgroundIt is suggested that immunosuppression due to transplantation might be a risk for human polyomavirus KI (KIPyV) and WU (WUPyV) infection. Most of the publications report data about stem cell transplant patients, little is known about these virus infections in renal transplant patients. ObjectivesTo study the presence of KIPyV and WUPyV in upper respiratory, plasma and urine samples from renal transplant patients. To analyse clinical and personal data. Study design532 respiratory, 503 plasma and 464 urine samples were collected from 77 renal transplant patients. KIPyV and WUPyV were detected by nested and quantitative real-time PCR. Patient and clinical data from medical records were analyzed. ResultsKIPyV was detected in respiratory, plasma and urine samples from 14.3%, 3.9% and 4.1% of renal transplant patients. WUPyV was found in respiratory and plasma specimens from 9.1% and 5.3% of the patients. Significant association was revealed between the detection of KIPyV and WUPyV and the time of samples collection and the age of the patients. KIPyV was presented in respiratory and plasma sample at the same time. KIPyV was detected in plasma samples from two patients and in urine samples of three other patients providing also KIPyV positive respiratory samples at the same time. No clinical consequences of KIPyV or WUPyV infection were found. ConclusionAlthough no clinical consequences of KIPyV and WUPyV infections were found in renal transplant patients, it is suggested that renal transplantation might result in higher susceptibility or reactivation of these infection.

Association of helicobacter pylori infection with serum magnesium in kidney transplant patients.

Introduction: Few studies are available regarding the various promoting factors of H. pylori infection in kidney disease patients especially renal transplant individuals. Objectives: This study was therefore conducted to examine the association of serum magnesium with H. pylori infection among kidney transplant patients. This cross-sectional investigation was conducted on a group of stable kidney transplant patients. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis after an overnight fast, Also urea breath test (UBT) was conducted for patients. Patients and Methods: A total of 50 cases was enrolled to the study. Mean serum magnesium value of the patients was 1.98 ± 0.62 mg/dl. Serum magnesium level in positive H. pylori patients was more than negative H. pylori patients (p=0.0005). In this study population, there was no significant difference in serum intact PTH, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) between males and females or H. pylori positive and H. pylori negative subjects (p>0.5). Conclusion: It is possible that, magnesium aggravates H. pylori infection in kidney transplant patients through the mechanisms like hemodialysis, which we had reported previously. However, more studies are necessary to prove the association of magnesium with H. pylori infection in renal transplant patients and finding the clinical relevance of our findings.

Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor gene repertoire influences viral load of primary human cytomegalovirus infection in renal transplant patients.

Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are highly polymorphic members of the immunoglobulin superfamily, which influence the response of natural killer cells and some T-lymphocyte subsets. Analysis of a cohort of previously human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-negative patients, who developed primary HCMV infection following HCMV-positive renal transplant (n=76), revealed an increase in the frequency of KIR genes located on the telomeric region of B haplotypes (Tel B). The presence of Tel B in combination with the KIR ligand HLA-C2 was significantly more frequent in this subgroup. These genetic factors were associated with resistance to HCMV infection in a second cohort (n=65), where the Tel B genes KIR2DL5, -2DS1, 2DS5 and -3DS1 were all significantly associated with high viral loads. Furthermore, the KIR haplotype Tel A when in combination with the KIR ligand HLA-C1 was significantly protective against the development of severe infection. Our results suggest that KIR are a significant factor in the control of primary HCMV infection, and that determination of KIR gene repertoire may help in detection of renal transplant patients who were most at risk.

Acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in renal transplant patients

IntroductionThere is scarce information regarding clinical evolution of HBV infection in renal transplant patients. AimsTo evaluate the prevalence of acute exacerbation in HBV-infected renal transplant patients and its association with the time after transplantation, presence of viral replication, clinical evolution, and use of antiviral prophylaxis. Materials and methodsHBV infected renal transplant patients who underwent regular follow-up visits at 6-month intervals were included in the study. The criteria adopted to characterize exacerbation were: ALT >5× ULN and/or >3× baseline level. Predictive factors of exacerbation evaluated were age, gender, time on dialysis, type of donor, post-transplant time, ALT, HBeAg, HBV-DNA, HCV-RNA, immunosuppressive therapy, and use of antiviral prophylaxis. Results140 HBV-infected renal transplant patients were included (71% males; age 46±10 years; post-renal transplant time 8±5 years). During follow-up, 25% (35/140) of the patients presented exacerbation within 3.4±3 years after renal transplant. Viral replication was observed in all patients with exacerbation. Clinical and/or laboratory signs of hepatic insufficiency were present in 17% (6/35) of the patients. Three patients died as a consequence of liver failure. In univariate analysis variables associated with exacerbation were less frequent use of prophylactic/preemptive lamivudine and of mycophenolate mofetil. Lamivudine use was the only variable independently associated with exacerbation, with a protective effect. ConclusionsAcute exacerbation was a frequent and severe event in HBV-infected renal transplant patients. Prophylactic/preemptive therapy with antiviral drugs should be indicated for all HBsAg-positive renal transplant patients.

Past and current hepatitis E virus infection in renal transplant patients

The chronic course of hepatitis E virus infection in immunosuppressed patients has been recently documented; however, clinical features and factors associated with this occurrence are not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of previous or current HEV infection in renal transplant patients. One hundred ninety-two kidney transplant patients were studied and classified in three groups: G1-infected with hepatitis B and/or C virus; G2-patients with elevated ALT; G3-patients with normal ALT and no hepatotropic virus infection. Demographic, epidemiologic and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups. Patients with HEV infection (previous or current) were also compared to those who tested negative for HEV. HEV infection was detected using serologic (anti-HEV IgG) and molecular (HEV RNA) methods. Anti-HEV IgG was positive in 28 (15%) while HEV RNA was positive in 20 (10%). When both markers were considered, 44 (23%) patients showed evidence of previous or current HEV infection. However, both markers were concomitantly positive in only four cases (2%). In the comparative analysis, patients infected with HBV and/or HCV showed lower frequency of anti-HEV IgG (P = 0.009). There was no difference regarding demographic, epidemiologic and laboratory variable between viremic and non-viremic patients. In conclusion, past and current infection with HEV was a frequent finding among renal transplant recipients. Actively infected patients (HEV RNA positive) did not present distinct demographic and epidemiological characteristics or laboratory alterations suggestive of underlying liver damage. Therefore, infection with HEV can only be detected in immunosuppressed patients by systematic investigation of HEV RNA.

Atypical Presentation of Herpes Zoster Duplex Bilateralis in a Renal Transplanted Patient.

Viral infections in renal transplant patients are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. In most cases, the clinical presentation of herpes zoster allows the diagnosis to be made only by history and physical examination. However, patients who are immunosuppressed may have uncommon presentations, and require a high index of suspicion and additional diagnostic testing for proper management. We report a rare presentation of herpes zoster duplex bilateralis involving symmetrical dermatomes over the lower limbs occurring in a woman with a recent history of renal transplantation. The skin lesions were also atypical representing a diagnostic challenge. This infection should be part of differential diagnosis of cutaneous manifestations in organ transplant recipients.

Análisis morfométrico de la citología urinaria en pacientes trasplantados renales con infección del virus BK

IntroductionThe interstitial nephritis associated with BK virus is a complication of renal transplantation. The presence of viral inclusions called «Decoy cells» in urinary cytologies and DNA viral load in plasma, urine and kidney tissue are markers of BK virus replication. ObjectiveAnalysis of urinary cytology as screening method for the early diagnosis of polyomavirus infection in renal transplant patients. Material and methodRetrospective and prospective study of 114 urinary cytologies and viral load in urine (PCR) in 33 patients with renal transplantation infection in search of BK virus. Morphometric analysis of the 4 types of viral inclusions (Decoy cells) by BK virus infection using image software NIS-Elements Advanced Research version 3.0. ResultsThe urinary cytology is an excellent screening method for the early diagnosis of polyomavirus infection in renal transplant patients with a sensitivity of 81.4% and a specificity of only 22.6%. The 4 patterns of cytomorfologics Decoy cells show a scatter area and length of less than 50% from the average value, being lower in type iv. ConclusionsThe probability of a renal transplant patient infected by the BK virus having a cytology with nuclears inclusions compatible with with Decoy cells is high but its specificity as a sign of infection and replication by BK virus is low. The 4 cytomorphologic patterns of Decoy cells should be considered as a different cell subgroups.

Infections in Renal Transplant Patients: Risk Factors and Infectious Agents

AimInfectious complications after renal transplantation (RT) are associated with significant morbidity. They continue to be the most frequent cause of mortality. We investigated the incidence of infections, the causative pathogens, and risk factors contributing to this complication during the first year. Patients and MethodsWe included demographic and clinical data of the 124 patients who underwent RT in our hospital from December 2004 to June 2010. for statistical analysis. ResultsFifty (40.3%) RT recipients developed 80 episodes of infection: urinary tract (n = 68; 85%), intraabdominal (n = 4; 5%), surgical wound (n = 3; 3.8%), or central venous catheter (n = 3; 4%). Eight (10%) were bacteremic. The most commonly isolated bacteria scene (76/80) was Escherichia coli (n = 43; 56.5%) followed by Klebsiella spp. (n = 10; 13.2%) and Pseudomonas spp. (n = 10; 13.2%). Cytomegalovirus infection was detected in 2 recipients; fungal and mycobacterial infections, in no case. It was noteworthy that 52.8% of E. coli and Klebsiella spp. produced extended-spectrum beta-lactamase. Ninety percent of infections developed within 6 months after transplantation. When we compared infected versus noninfected cases, the presence of a double J catheter was the most significant risk factor (P = .018; odds ratio [OR] = 0.234; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.070–0.781). In contrast to the initial years after the start of RT in our hospital the incidence of infection decreased over time together with a decrease number and durations of catheterization (P = .008; OR = 2.707; 95% CI = 1.292–5.672). ConclusionsUrinary tract infections were the predominant problem with most isolates resistant to extended-spectrum antibiotics. Therefore, invasive catheters and prophylactic antibiotics should not be used for longer than necessary and infection control measures implemented to decrease the incidence of infections and bacterial resistance.

2316 DOES THE USE OF URETERAL STENTS IN RENAL TRANSPLANT ALLOGRAFTS INCREASE THE RISK OF MULTI-DRUG RESISTANT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS OR DECREASE LONG TERM FUNCTION OF THE ALLOGRAFT?

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Post renal transplant infectious complications are largely due to urinary tract infections (UTIs). We determined whether the use of a stent increased the risk of developing a multi-drug resistant urinary tract infection in renal transplant patients or affected long term function of the allograft. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed our transplant cases from 2006-2009 (N 172). We divided our cohort into stented or nonstented. We analyzed the cases for development of first post transplant UTI. We further analyzed these positive urine cultures for the presence of multidrug resistance. Of the patients that developed infections we looked at gender, race, ethnicity, preoperative GU anatomic anomalies, and postoperative complications and whether these variables had any significance in the development of postoperative multidrug resistant UTI. Stents were removed at 3 weeks posttransplant. Comparisons of variables between the two cohorts were evaluated using the SAS statistical software. T-test and Chi square were utilized to compare the 2 cohorts with p 0.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Our data analysis found that there was no significant difference in the development of a multidrug resistant UTI in stented versus non-stented patients. Factors having significance in posttransplant multidrug resistant UTI development were female gender (p 0.02) and postoperative complications (p 0.001). Patients with prior GU abnormalities had an increased incidence of postoperative UTI however this did not reach statistical significance. There was no significant difference by race or age. The graft function was the same whether patients had a stent or no stent. CONCLUSIONS: Our data shows that the risk of development of a multidrug resistant UTI was not increased by the use of a stent at the time of transplant. The risk of multidrug resistant UTI is increased if the patient is female, has had prior GU anomalies, or had postoperative complications.

The usefulness of intracellular adenosine-5'-triphosphate measurement in CD4+ cells in renal transplant.

ImmuKnow is an in vitro diagnosis method that uses patient samples of whole blood polyclonally stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin. It also measures adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production by CD4+ T cells. The test aims to offer an objective and overall measurement of each individual's cellular immune response. The assay was designed with the idea of individually monitoring the immunosuppression administered to transplant patients. At the same time, it aims to help achieve a balance as a way of avoiding immunosuppression excess and the associated adverse effects (infections, cancer, etc.) or an immunosuppression defect and the subsequent risk of allograft rejection. The majority of studies that have evaluated its clinical usefulness display great diversity in terms of patient recruitment, the immunosuppressant treatment received, the clinical variables analysed and, above all, the time between performing ImmuKnow and the evaluated clinical event. The most consistent data show that this assay on CD4+ T cell functioning is useful for predicting the risk of infection in renal transplant patients. However, its use as a rejection risk indicator is unclear. Lastly, given the great variability of immune response amongst individuals and that of existing publications, it can be deduced that the isolated ImmuKnow value does not have diagnostic capacity and only individual serial monitoring could provide definitive assistance in clinical decision making and immunosuppressant treatment changes. Other aspects of ImmuKnow application in the clinical routine, such as assay cycles, require randomised prospective studies for more comprehensive information.

CMV Infection in Renal Transplant Patients: Single Center Analysis of Direct and Indirect Effects

CMV Infection in Renal Transplant Patients: Single Center Analysis of Direct and Indirect Effects