Martinu, Tereza

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence and impact of de novo fungal airway colonization and infection in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) with known chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) has not been established. We aimed to determine the 1‐year cumulative incidence and risk factors of de novo fungal colonization or infection in LTRs with CLAD and assess the impact of colonization or infection on post‐CLAD survival.MethodsProspectively collected Toronto Lung Transplant Program database and chart review were used for double‐LTRs who were diagnosed with CLAD from January 1, 2016 to January 1, 2020 and who were free of airway fungi within 1 year prior to CLAD onset. International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation definitions were used to define clinical syndromes. Cox‐Proportional Hazards Models were used for risk‐factor analysis. Survival analysis could not be completed secondary to low number of fungal events; therefore, descriptive statistics were employed for survival outcomes.ResultsWe found 186 LTRs diagnosed with CLAD meeting our inclusion criteria. The 1‐year cumulative incidence for any fungal event was 11.8% (7.0% for infection and 4.8% for colonization). Aspergillus fumigatus was a causative pathogen in eight of 13 (61.5%) patients with infection and six of nine (66.7%) patients with colonization. No patients with fungal colonization post‐CLAD developed fungal infection. Peri‐CLAD diagnosis (3 months prior or 1 month after) methylprednisolone bolus (hazards ratio: 8.84, p = .001) increased the risk of fungal events. Most patients diagnosed with fungal infections (53.8%) died within 1‐year of CLAD onset.ConclusionDe novo IFIs and fungal colonization following CLAD onset were not common. Fungal colonization did not lead to fungal infection. Methylprednisolone bolus was a significant risk factors for post‐CLAD fungal events. image

AbstractBackgroundLung transplant recipients are at increased risk of candidemia, especially in the early posttransplant period. However, the specific predisposing factors have not been established. The natural history of candidemia after lung transplantation, in the absence of universal antifungal prophylaxis, is not known.MethodsWe retrospectively examined the epidemiology of candidemia at any time posttransplant in patients who underwent lung transplantation at our center between 2016 and 2019. We undertook a case‐control study and used logistic regression to evaluate the risk factors for candidemia during the first 30 days posttransplantation.ResultsDuring the study period 712 lung transplants were performed on 705 patients. Twenty‐five lung transplant recipients (LTRs) (3.5%) experienced 31 episodes of candidemia. The median time to candidemia was 19.5 days (IQR 10.5–70.5), with 61.2% (n = 19) episodes of candidemia occurring within the first 30 days posttransplantation. Pretransplant hospitalization, posttransplant ECMO, and posttransplant renal replacement therapy were associated with an increased risk of candidemia in the first 30 days posttransplant. Of those with candidemia in the first 30 days, 31.2% died within 30 days of the index positive blood culture. Candidemia was associated with decreased survival within 30 days posttransplant.ConclusionThis study highlights the greatest risk period of lung transplant recipients for development of candidemia and identifies several factors associated with increased risk of candidemia. These findings will help guide future studies on antifungal prophylaxis.