Fungal infection in single and bilateral lung transplantation: report of 17 cases in 42 consecutive recipients

ABSTRACT

We reviewed the frequency and type of fungal infections in patients undergoing lung transplantation at Pavilhäo Pereira Filho Hospital between may 1989 and january 1995. Among the 42 lung transplant recipients studies, 17 ( 40 por cento ) had histologic diagnosis of fungal infection aspergillosis 8 casos, candidosis 6 cases, and aspergillosis combined with candidosis 3 cases. Among all fungal infections, 47 por cento ( 8 of 17 cases ) occurred in the first month after transplantation, and 82 por cento occurred within the first six months after the transplant. The diagnosis was done during life in candidosis in 77 por cento of patients by transbronchial biopsy. However, aspergillosis was revealed in autopsy material in 82 por cento of cases. Most of the patients with candidosis had a local infection in the transplanted lung. On the contrary, in aspergillosis patients 88 por cento had the mycosis in the native lung