Impact of fungal infections on solid-organ transplant recipients

Invasive fungal infections in solid-organ transplant recipients are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The vast majority of these infections are attributable to Candida species and Aspergillus species. The risk of fungal infection and the types of pathogen involved are largely determined by the history of exposure to fungal pathogens, degree of host immune suppression, type of organ(s) transplanted, and time elapsed since transplantation. Knowledge of these factors, as well as of common clinical manifestations of fungal infections, combined with vigilance in the assessment of transplant recipients, is pivotal for early diagnosis. Future tasks in this field include development of effective chemoprophylaxis strategies, accurate rapid diagnostic methods, and optimal therapeutic regimens.