Post renal transplant infections: Single center experience from Nigeria.

Background: Infections are the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality in transplant recipients. Nigeria has a growing number of renal transplant recipients. The aim of this study was to determine the pattern of infections in renal allograft recipients in one of the major renal transplant centers in Nigeria. Methods & Materials: All case records of renal allograft recipients on follow up were retrieved. Those that had infection at any time after transplantation were selected. Demographic and clinical information were collected and analysed. Results: Thirty three case records were analysed out of which 24/33(72.7%) were males, with the mean age of 42.3 years (±7.38). The median duration of developing infection post-transplant was 270 days (Range 2 - 2190). Most of the infection occurred after 6month 15/33(45.5%). Urinary tract infection was the commonest infection 13/33(39.4%), followed by pneumonia 12(33.3%). There were two cases each (5.6%) of tuberculosis and non-typhoidal salmonella septicemia and one case (2.8%) of CMV colitis. Majority 6/9 (66.7%) of the pneumonia cases was gram negative pneumonia with P. aeroginosa been the commonest isolates 3/9(33.3%). Among those with UTI, E.coli, and Klebsiella spp were isolated with equal proportion 3/13(23.1%) while Enterococcus feacalis was the commonest isolate 4/13(30.8%). Among the tested isolates 61.5% and 50% of gram negative pathogens and S. aureus respectively were resistant to co-trimoxazole, while all the 2 isolated non-typhoidal salmonella were MDR. Overall mortality was 10/33(30.3%) out of which 5/10(50%) was due to pneumonia. Conclusion: There is need to strengthen infection surveillance among post-transplant patients in Nigeria. Infection with MDR pathogen is common and the outcome co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in renal transplantation in our center need to be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]