A spectrum of fungal infections in kidney transplant recipients

9^th International Conference on Nephrology: Kidney & Therapeutics

September 29-30, 2016 Orlando, USA

Praveen Kumar Kolla

Narayana Medical College, India

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nephrol Ther

Abstract :

Introduction: Invasive fungal infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in renal transplant recipients. The opportunistic pathogens such as Candida, Aspergillus, Mucormycosis, Cryptococcus, Histoplasma, Coccidioides are known to infect the kidneys in predisposed individuals with serious complications. Recipients of solid organ transplants have 24-40% incidence of opportunistic fungal infections with a very high mortality of 70-100%. Objective: Aim of this study is to report the spectrum of fungal infections in renal allograft recipients at Narayana Medical College-Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India. Materials & Methods: 70 patients, who underwent kidney transplantation between March 2010-February 2016, were reviewed. Among these, 65 were live related and five were deceased donor transplants. Only 16 patients received induction therapy with either ATG or basiliximab and all were on triple immunosuppression with tacrolimus, MMF and steroids. Patients who were diagnosed having fungal infections were included in our study. Diagnosis was based on clinical, radiological, culture and histopathological examination. Results: Out of 11 patients with various fungal infections, four were found to have Aspergillus; two were infected with Candida; three with Pneumocystis; one with mucormycosis and; one with chromoblastomycosis. Of these three were in the form of cutaneous nodules, seven were invasive fungal infections, one had aneurysm of graft renal artery. Inspite of appropriate antifungal therapy, four of these patients with invasive fungal infection were expired. Conclusion: The mortality of invasive fungal infections is still high in renal allograft recipients despite newer antifungal agents. Early detection of invasive fungal infections and prompt initiation of therapy are important in reducing mortality.

Biography :

Praveen Kumar Kolla has completed his Graduation in Medicine from Kurnool Medical College, Kurnool and Post-graduation in Internal Medicine from Manipal Academy of Higher Education. He was trained in Nephrology from Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, India. He is the Professor and Head in Department of Nephrology, Narayana Medical College, Nellore. He has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals.

Email: drkolla2002@yahoo.co.in