Special Issue: Fungal Infection in Patients with Organ Transplantation

Abstract

Impairment of the immunological competence of patients facilitates the colonization and invasive infection with ubiquitary present fungal spores. The group of predisposed individuals consists of patients suffering from hematological malignancy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or those undergoing solid organ transplantation, neonates, patients with long-term intensive care dependency, or patients with severe burns. Despite major achievements in risk stratification, diagnosis, and treatment of fungal infections, these infections contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality in these clinical settings. After solid organ transplantation, the risk for invasive fungal infection is highest after small bowel transplantation followed by lung, liver, pancreas, heart, and kidney transplantations. Besides host characteristics and the specific organ-related predisposition, several risk factors for developing an invasive fungal infection were identified. In this chapter the issues of fungal infections in immunocompromised patients with a special focus on solid organ transplantation recipients are reviewed.