Skip to main content
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1983 Nov;38(11):822–828. doi: 10.1136/thx.38.11.822

Infectious complications after heart transplantation.

D K Cooper, R P Lanza, S Oliver, A A Forder, A G Rose, C J Uys, D Novitzky, C N Barnard
PMCID: PMC459670  PMID: 6359562

Abstract

Infection has been the major cause of death and morbidity in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation at Groote Schuur Hospital. Twenty-two (55%) patients suffered at least one major episode of infection, which accounted for 10 (59%) of the deaths in the first year. The major site of origin of infection was the lung, though dissemination was not infrequent. Bacteria accounted for 22 (59%) infections; but viral, fungal and protozoal infections were not uncommon and in fact accounted for seven (64%) of the fatal infections. Several unusual causative microorganisms have been isolated in this group of immunocompromised subjects. There is a higher incidence of infection in patients over the age of 35 years and in patients who did not comply with instructions and advice.

Full text

PDF
822

Images in this article

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BEVERLEY J. K. A., BEATTIE C. P. Standardization of the dye test for toxoplasmosis. J Clin Pathol. 1952 Nov;5(4):350–353. doi: 10.1136/jcp.5.4.350. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barnard C. N., Barnard M. S., Cooper D. K., Curchio C. A., Hassoulas J., Novitsky D., Wolpowitz A. The present status of heterotopic cardiac transplantation. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1981 Mar;81(3):433–439. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Fraser D. W., Buxton A. E., Naji A., Barker C. F., Rudnick M., Weinstein A. J. Disseminated mycobacterium kansasii infection presenting as cellulitis in a recipient of a renal homograft. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1975 Jul;112(1):125–129. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1975.112.1.125. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Graybill J. R., Silva J., Jr, Fraser D. W., Lordon R., Rogers E. Disseminated mycobacteriosis due to Mycobacterium abcessus in two recipients of renal homografts. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1974 Jan;109(1):4–10. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1974.109.1.4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. KING E. Q., JOHNSON J. B., BATTEN G. S., HENRY W. L. Tuberculosis following cortisone therapy; report of a case of rapidly progressive pulmonary tuberculosis following cortisone therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. J Am Med Assoc. 1951 Sep 15;147(3):238–241. doi: 10.1001/jama.1951.73670200001009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Losman J. G., Curcio A., Barnard C. Normal cardiac function with a hybrid heart. Ann Thorac Surg. 1978 Aug;26(2):177–184. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)63661-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Mezo A., Jennis F., McCarthy S. W., Dawson D. J. Unusual mycobacteria in 5 cases of opportunistic infections. Pathology. 1979 Jul;11(3):377–384. doi: 10.3109/00313027909059014. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Reznikov M. Atypical Mycobacteria. Their classification, identification, and aetiological significance. Med J Aust. 1970 Mar 14;1(11):553–557. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Uys C. J., Rose A. G., Barnard C. N. The pathology of human cardiac transplantation: an assessment after 11 years' experience at Groote Schuur Hospital. S Afr Med J. 1979 Nov 24;56(22):887–896. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES