Pneumococcal infections in children after transplantation

Clin Infect Dis. 2001 Jul 1;33(1):16-21. doi: 10.1086/320875. Epub 2001 May 23.

Abstract

Bacterial infections in recipients of bone marrow and solid-organ transplants remain a major cause of morbidity and death. The cases of 42 children who had undergone transplantation and developed an infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty-four patients had 1 episode of infection, whereas 7 had 2 episodes and 1 had 3 episodes of infection. Solid-organ recipients were more likely to have recurrent invasive disease (P<.02). A total of 31 (74%) of 42 patients were on immunosuppressive therapy, and 74% had been on antimicrobial therapy within 30 days before diagnosis of S. pneumoniae infection. Only 33% of eligible patients had received a pneumococcal vaccine. Twenty-six percent of isolates recovered were not susceptible to penicillin, and 18% were not susceptible to ceftriaxone. Two patients experienced infection-related deaths; one of these had a penicillin-nonsusceptible isolate. The antimicrobial susceptibilities and outcome of infections with S. pneumoniae in patients who have undergone transplantation are similar to those in the general pediatric population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bone Marrow Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Organ Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Pneumococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Pneumococcal Infections / epidemiology*
  • Pneumococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Serotyping
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / classification
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents