Single-center analysis of infectious complications in older adults during the first year after kidney transplantation.

Journal Article (Journal Article)

Infections are among the top three causes of death of older adults in the first year after kidney transplantation (KT). Our aim was to describe infectious complications among KT recipients aged ≥ 65 during the first 12 months post-transplant. Single-center retrospective cohort study. Ninety-one KTs had been performed in patients ≥ 65 years of age between 2011 and 2015. 92.3% of the patients developed at least one infection. Infectious episodes increased the risk of future infection by 10% (p = 0.0018) with each infection portending a greater risk. At a patient level, viral (71.4%) and bacterial (70.2%) infections predominated. Urinary tract infections were the most frequent complication (30.3%), followed by cytomegalovirus infections (22.7%). Infections were the main reason for readmission. 7.7% of the patients developed rejection; and overall 3.3% lost their graft. Mortality at 1 year was 9.9%. Older KT recipients have a high incidence of infectious complications the first year after KT. Infections were the number one reason for readmission, and an infection episode predicted future infections for the individual patient. Despite these complications, the majority of older KT recipients were alive with a functioning graft at 1 year.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Hemmersbach-Miller, M; Alexander, BD; Sudan, DL; Pieper, C; Schmader, KE

Published Date

  • January 2019

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 38 / 1

Start / End Page

  • 141 - 148

PubMed ID

  • 30353487

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC6318042

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1435-4373

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s10096-018-3405-5

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • Germany