Late Respiratory Infection after Lung Transplantation

Abstract

Background

Aiming to improve outcome of lung transplantation (LTx) patients, we reviewed risk factors and treatment practices for the LTx recipients who experienced respiratory infection in the late post-LTx period (>1 month after LTx).

Methods

We analyzed the clinical data of 48 recipients and donors from 61 LTx, who experienced late respiratory infections. Late respiratory infections were classified according to the etiology, time of occurrence, and frequency of donor-to-host transmission or colonization of the recipient prior to transplantation.

Results

During the period of observation, 42 episodes of respiratory infections occurred. The organisms most frequently involved were gram (-) bacteria: Acinetobacter baumannii (n=13, 31.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=7, 16.7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=4, 10.0%). Among the 42 episodes recorded, 14 occurred in the late post-LTx period. These were bacterial (n=6, 42.9%), fungal (n=2, 14.3%), viral (n=4, 28.5%), and mycobacterial (n=2, 14.3%) infections. Of 6 bacterial infections, 2 were from multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and one from each of MDR P. aeruginosa, extended spectrum β-lactamase (+) K. pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infection-related death occurred in 6 of the 14 episodes (43%).

Conclusion

Although the frequency of respiratory infection decreased sharply in the late post-LTx period, respiratory infection was still a major cause of mortality. Gram (-) MDR bacteria were the agents most commonly identified in these infections.

Introduction

Since the first human lung transplantation (LTx) in 1963, significant progress has been made in this field. From the registry of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT), 3519 LTx for end-stage lung disease were performed in 2010. The median survival for LTx recipients, however, is 5.5 years, disappointing compared to that of other solid organ recipients1.

Morbidity and mortality throughout the post-LTx period result primarily from infection2-5; respiratory infections including pneumonia account for approximately 35% of deaths in the first year6. Among solid organ transplant recipients, LTx recipients are most susceptible to infection. Several factors unique to the lung may explain this. First, denervation of the allograft decreases mucociliary clearance and the cough reflex. Adding to the risks of generalized immunosuppression, the lung is the only allograft continuously exposed to the environment, donor-to-host transmission, and microorganisms colonizing the upper airways7.

The various etiologies of respiratory infection in LTx patients include opportunistic, hospital- and community-acquired microorganisms, which differ during the time to occurrence. Donor-to-host transmission is one of important risk factors in early respiratory infection following LTx7.

In the late post-LTx period (>1 month after LTx), the incidence of infectious episodes decreases markedly, despite patients returning to their normal activities at home or work. However, in this late phase, respiratory infection still presents a potentially fatal risk. Better understanding of post-transplantation susceptibility and of patterns of infectious exposure in the patient's environment is urgently required to avert this risk.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the epidemiology of respiratory infection in LTx recipients at our center. In particular, we analyzed the time to occurrence of infection, colonization of the recipient with a relevant infectious agent, donor-to-host transmission of these agents, and the relationship of late-phase respiratory infection to mortality.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed the medical records of 48 LTx recipients treated at our institution between January 2006 and June 2012 for demographic data, primary respiratory disease, microbiological testing before and after transplantation, and episodes of infection throughout the post-transplantation observation period. This study was reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Board at Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine (IRB no. 3-2012-0223).

1. Pre-transplant screening

Before LTx, sputum samples were cultured for bacteria and fungi, and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from recipient was analyzed by fibrobronchoscopy. Pre-transplant evaluations also included serology for cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis A, B and C, herpes virus, and human immunodeficiency virus.

2. Antimicrobial prophylaxis

Postoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis was guided by culture from donor and recipient. For the patients without known colonization, antibacterial prophylaxis was given as either a single agent, piperacillin-tazobactam or a combination of ceftriaxone, isepamicin and metronidazole. Systemic antimicrobial drugs were administered for 7 days if surveillance culture from donor and recipient were both negative. If the cultures were positive, antibacterial prophylaxis was maintained for at least 2 weeks as indicated by the antibiogram. All patients underwent prophylaxis for fungi with fluconazole daily for one year and for Pneumocystis jirovecii infection with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Based on CMV serology, patients at high and moderate risk for CMV infection (recipient [-]/donor [+] and recipient [+]/donor [+ or -], respectively) were maintained prophylactically with intravenous ganciclovir for two weeks, followed by oral valganciclovir for up to 6 months or one year.

3. Immunosuppressive therapy

Methylprednisolone was used to induce immunosuppression and was followed by maintenance therapy with steroids, calcineurin inhibitor and an antimetabolite. Maintenance immunosuppressive drugs consisted of prednisone, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil.

4. Post-transplant surveillance

Post-transplant evaluation included pulmonary function tests, imaging, periodic sputum cultures, and CMV antigenemia testing. If respiratory infection or rejection was suspected, the patient underwent a chest computed tomography scan, fibrobronchoscopy with alveolar lavage for bacterial and fungal cultures, indirect immunofluorescence tests for viral and P. jirovecii infections and mycobacterial polymerase chain reaction, and transbronchial biopsies to assess rejection and infection. Diagnosis of respiratory infection was made if a patient met any of the following criteria: fever (body temperature ≥ 37.8℃), cough, dyspnea, purulent expectoration, chest X-ray showing a new infiltrate, or significant impairment in lung function.

Results

Demographic data for the LTx recipients are presented in Table 1. The mean age of the patients was 48.3 years. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was the most common indication for LTx and most procedures were bilateral.

Table 1.

Demographic characteristics of 48 lung transplant recipients

LAM: lymphangioleiomyomatosis; DAD: diffuse alveolar damage; ARDS: acute respiratory distress syndrome; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The microbiological etiology was established in 42 episodes from 48 recipient. Bacterial respiratory infection (73.8%) was more frequent than fungal (11.9%) and viral infection (9.5%). Bacteriological isolates were mostly (67.7%) gram (-) bacteria: A. baumannii (n=13, 31.0%), P. aeruginosa (n=7, 16.7%), and K. pneumoniae (n=4, 10.0%). Fungal infections were diagnosed in 5 recipients, all of them caused by either Candida albicans or Aspergillus species. Two cases of mycobacterial infection were identified, including one non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM): Mycobacterium gordonae (Table 2). All 4 patients with viral respiratory infection were diagnosed as CMV pneumonitis. However, no episode associated with CMV occurred within the first 12 months after transplantation. Reviewing the CMV serology, we found that none of the 5 high-risk mismatch recipients and 4 of the 37 medium-risk recipients developed CMV infection (Table 3).

Table 2.

Microbiological etiologies of respiratory infections after lung transplantation

CMV: cytomegalovirus; NTM: nontuberculous mycobacteria.

Table 3.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology of 48 lung transplant recipients

Among these, 7 patients (35%) were involved in donor-to-host transmission and 6 occurred within one month after LTx. Among 48 lung recipients in this study, 33 patients (68.8%) produced colonizing microorganisms in the pre-transplant BAL culture. Post-transplantation respiratory infection due to pre-transplant colonization occurred in 4 LTx recipients, and 3 of these infections occurred within the first month after LTx (Table 4).

Table 4.

Colonization and transmission patterns in lung transplant recipients

^*This episodes occurred in late post-transplant period (>1 month after transplant).

Comparing most episodes (66.7%) of the respiratory infections occurred within the first month post-transplantation, 12 patients of the 48 LTx recipients had 14 episodes after one month. In contrast to episodes within the first month, in which bacterial infections predominated, late-phase infections showed diverse etiologies. These were bacterial (n=6, 42.9%), fungal (n=2, 14.3%), viral (n=4, 28.5%), and mycobacterial (n=2, 14.3%). Of 6 bacterial infections, 2 were from multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and one each from MDR P. aeruginosa, extended spectrum β-lactamase (+) K. pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant S. aureus and S. pneumoniae. Among the 14 episodes of late-phase respiratory infection, 6 episodes (43%) resulted in death (Table 5).

Table 5.

Mortality-related respiratory infections in the late post-transplant period (>1 month after transplant)

NTM: nontuberculous mycobacteria; CMV: cytomegalovirus.

Discussion

The most critical risks for mortality in the first month after LTx from infection and posttransplant complications2,8,9. Risk of respiratory infection, typically by nosocomial organisms, is greatest in this early period. Prophylactic use of antibiotics reduced the risk of post-LTx pneumonia10. When immunosuppressive therapy is at the highest level, opportunistic organisms such as CMV and fungi account for most of the respiratory infections. Thereafter, community-acquired bacterial and viral infections also develop, although infection with health care-associated organisms remains common11.

In our analysis, the cumulative risk of an episode of respiratory infection increased sharply during the first 30 days after transplant, when more than half of the episodes occurred, and continued to increase until it stabilized. Bacterial pneumonia accounted for the largest proportion of infections followed by viral, fungal, and mycobacterial infections in the late period. Remarkably, most of the bacterial infections were gram (-) MDR and of nosocomial origin. These organisms also accounted for most of the respiratory infection-related deaths. Thus respiratory infections induced by gram (-) MDR organisms may predominate over community-acquired infection in the late period. Empiric antibiotic therapy in the early period after LTx is essential.

CMV infection ranks second to bacterial pneumonia in incidence in the first year following LTx12,13; however, our data revealed no episode of CMV in this early period. In accordance with previous studies, we attribute this relatively low incidence of early CMV infection and delay in onset time to the routine prophylactic use of ganciclovir for up to 6 months or one year14,15. Recent studies report a reduction in CMV viremia and infection with prolonged prophylactic regimens; however, the extended prophylaxis is more likely to delay the onset of CMV infection than to prevent it16-19. Other viruses such as herpes simplex, influenza, and respiratory syncytial viruses may cause pneumonia in LTx recipients; however, these did not appear in our study. In addition, prophylaxis with fluconazole at our institution proved effective in suppressing fungal infections. Previous studies show similar suppression of fungal infections as a result of prophylactic strategies20-23.

Other opportunistic microorganisms are far less common. Mycobacterial infections occur rarely after LTx and are typically secondary to Mycobacterium tuberculosis24. However, recent data show a rising incidence of NTM infections, particularly by M. abscessus, in 3% to 9% of cases25,26. Most previous data on pulmonary tuberculosis come from case reports or small series of patients and show incidence rates lower than 3%27,28. In our data, 2 mycobacterium infections occurred in 48 LTx recipients. These results agree closely with findings in other countries24-28, where the incidence of tuberculosis is much lower than in our country (80.7 episodes per 100,000 inhabitants/yr in 2011)29.

Data from ISHLT registry show that presence of clinical infection in a donor does not significantly predict mortality in the recipient in the first year30. Previous studies including ours confirm the presence of organisms in 60% to 80% of donor lungs, although these organisms very infrequently result in respiratory infections, especially in the late post-LTx period31-33.

This study is limited primarily in the short median follow-up period (338 days), small sample size and retrospective design. Additional observation and analysis of trends in respiratory infection after the first post-LTx year are needed. Meanwhile, prophylactic strategies currently in place should be continued.

In conclusion, although antibiotic therapy has sharply curbed the incidence of respiratory infections following LTx, respiratory infection still presents a major risk for mortality in the late post-LTx period. Nosocomial gram (-) MDR bacteria were most commonly involved in these episodes.