Factors Affecting the Frequency of Infection in Renal Transplant Recipients

A restrospective review of 149 patients receiving 162 renal transplants showed that 83% of these patients developed one or more infections during a follow-up period averaging one year. In 32 (73%) of 44 deaths, infection was an important contributing cause. In only four (9%) of the deaths were the patients free of infection at the time of death. TheKlebsiella-Enterobactergroup was the most common agent causing pneumonitis and sepsis.Cryptococcus neoformanscaused seven of 11 cases of meningitis. Pseudomonas was the most frequent agent associated with infections documented during postmortem examinations. In a short-term controlled study comparing daily and alternate daily therapy with prednisone, the alternate daily group had significantly (P<.05) more infections per patient, especially in patients who had no evidence of rejection (P<.025). (Arch Intern Med136:670-677, 1976)