Post-operative nosocomial infections after lung and heart transplantation

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2007 Mar;26(3):241-9. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2006.12.009.

Abstract

Background: Thoracic transplant recipients appear to be at high risk for post-operative infections. Therefore, we investigated the incidence and risk factors of post-operative nosocomial infections (NIs) in lung and heart transplant recipients.

Methods: From January 2002 to December 2003, a cohort of 208 consecutive thoracic transplant recipients (137 lung transplants [LTx], 51 heart transplants [HTx] and 20 combined transplants [CLTx]) were analyzed for post-operative infections and in-hospital mortality. NIs were determined according to CDC definitions. Uni- and multivariate risk factor analyses were performed.

Results: Of the 157 NIs, 59 were pneumonia (37.6%), 34 primary sepsis (21.6%), 34 urinary tract (21.6%) and 30 surgical site (19.1%). Despite a total NI incidence of 75.5%, more importantly 56.3% of all patients remained free from any infection. CLTx patients had a higher risk of developing NIs (odds ratio [OR] 4.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74 to 15.34). Risk factors for NIs were volume reduction procedures in LTx (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.13 to 6.30) and re-do Tx (OR 5.25; 95% CI 1.41 to 26.8). In LTx patients, pre-operative colonization with gram-negative rods was found to be a risk factor for post-transplant pneumonia (OR 3.7; 95% CI 1.19 to 11.37). Presence of NI (OR 2.53; 95% CI 1.07 to 6.25) was a risk factor for mortality, as was cystic fibrosis (OR 3.20; 95% CI 1.27 to 7.92) and ventilation prior to transplantation (OR 4.00; 95% CI 1.28 to 12.09).

Conclusion: The mortality risk associated with NIs requires close infection surveillance for developing specific preventive anti-infection strategies.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigens, Viral / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross Infection* / complications
  • Cystic Fibrosis / complications
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Female
  • Graft Rejection / etiology
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pneumonia / microbiology
  • Postoperative Complications*
  • Sepsis / etiology
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Urinary Tract Infections / microbiology

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral