Invasive fungal infection after heart transplantation: A 7-year, single-center experience

Ignacio A. Echenique*, Michael P. Angarone, Robert A. Gordon, Jonathan Rich, Allen S. Anderson, Edwin C. McGee, Travis O. Abicht, Joseph Kang, Valentina Stosor

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are an infrequent but major complication of heart transplantation (HT). We sought to describe the epidemiology at our institution. Methods: A prospective cohort study of 159 heart transplant recipients was performed from June 2005 to December 2012. IFIs were defined by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group criteria. Results: By univariate analysis, Hispanic ethnicity was associated with IFI (P=.01, odds ratio [OR] 7.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-27.9). Subsequently, a multivariate logistic regression was performed adjusting for Hispanic ethnicity, age, and gender. Seventeen IFIs were identified, occurring at a median 110 days post HT (interquartile range: 32-411 days). Five IFIs (29% of IFIs and 3.1% of all HT) occurred during the HT hospitalization, with 13 IFIs during the first year (incidence 8.2%). Conclusions: The cumulative incidence was 10.7%. IFIs were associated with pre- and post-HT vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus colonization and/or infection, post-HT renal replacement therapy, anti-thymocyte globulin induction, and antibody-mediated rejection. There were no associations with diabetes mellitus, desensitization, 2R/3R cellular rejection, treatments for rejection, re-operation, neutropenia, or cytomegalovirus infection. IFIs were associated with death (P=.02, OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.3-12.1) and 1-year mortality (P<.001, OR 9.0, 95% CI 2.3-35.7), but not 3-year mortality. Associations with Hispanic ethnicity must be validated. Optimal strategies for risk reduction and prophylaxis remain undefined.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere12650
JournalTransplant Infectious Disease
Volume19
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2017

Keywords

  • Aspergillosis
  • candidiasis
  • heart transplantation
  • invasive fungal infection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Transplantation
  • Infectious Diseases

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