Background: Diarrhea in solid organ transplantation can be a complication with a high morbidity and mortality. Rotavirus (RV) infection normally occurs in children up to 3 years of age and often presents with severe diarrhea; however, it can also affect adults. We investigated the prevalence and outcome of RV infections in both adult and pediatric patients after solid organ transplantation.
Patients and methods: Retrospective analysis of RV-related enteritis in solid organ transplant recipients with a minimum of a 1-year follow-up from a single center between 2000 and 2004.
Results: Within our cohort of 1303 solid organ transplants, RV infection was observed in 19 patients (1.5%); 14 of these were liver recipients. Infection was most prevalent among pediatric liver recipients, with 52% (11/21) of the children affected. Five adults acquired the infection during their initial hospitalization. Two adult patients had to be readmitted following late-onset RV infection. In all cases, infection was self-limiting, but led to prolonged hospitalization because of significant loss of fluids and electrolytes.
Conclusions: RV enteritis is a common infection in pediatric solid organ recipients but may also affect adult patients.