Spectrum of Pneumonia in Renal Transplant Recipients: An Indian Experience.

OBJECTIVES: Respiratory tract infections are life-threatening infections in solid-organ transplant recipients that pose risk to the graft and to the patient. This study was undertaken to examine the clinical and microbiological spectrum of pneumonia in renal transplant recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of 400 consecutive renal transplant recipients, 87 recipients (21.8%) were hospitalized between November 2014 and October 2016 with pneumonia. We examined demographic profiles and clinical investigations. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 38 years (range, 19-72 y). The mean time of presentation after renal transplant was 18 months (range, 1-174 mo). Most patients (80.5%) were on maintenance immunosuppression with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids; 34% of patients had an induction agent. Chronic hepatitis C and hepatitis B infections were found in 12.6% and 2.2% of patients, respectively, and new-onset diabetes in 19.5% of patients. Fever (88%), cough (87%), shortness of breath (68%), and hypotension (33%) were common presenting symptoms. Diarrhea was the most frequent accompanying symptom, found in 9.2% of patients. Cytopenia and graft dysfunction were present in 38.7% and 80.4% of patients. Among infections, fungal infections were the most frequent (30%) followed by mixed infections (20.7%), tuberculosis (12.6%), bacterial (12.6%), and viral (3.5%) infections. Etiology could not be found in 27.6% patients. Mortality rate was 24.1%, with the highest rates for fungal infections (44%), followed by bacterial (25%) and mixed infections (18%). Presence of hypoxia and hypotension at presentation was associated with increased risk of death, whereas use of induction agents, new-onset diabetes posttransplant, diabetes mellitus, and acute kidney injury were not correlated with death or increased duration of hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonia carries high risk of mortality in renal transplant recipients. Fungal and bacterial infections carry high risk of mortality. Despite invasive investigations, a substantial number of patients had unidentified etiology.

COVID-19 in children treated with immunosuppressive medication for kidney diseases.

BACKGROUND: Children are recognised as at lower risk of severe COVID-19 compared with adults, but the impact of immunosuppression is yet to be determined. This study aims to describe the clinical course of COVID-19 in children with kidney disease taking immunosuppressive medication and to assess disease severity. METHODS: Cross-sectional study hosted by the European Rare Kidney Disease Reference Network and supported by the European, Asian and International paediatric nephrology societies. Anonymised data were submitted online for any child (age <20 years) with COVID-19 taking immunosuppressive medication for a kidney condition. Study recruited for 16 weeks from 15 March 2020 to 05 July 2020. The primary outcome was severity of COVID-19. RESULTS: 113 children were reported in this study from 30 different countries. Median age: 13 years (49% male). Main underlying reasons for immunosuppressive therapy: kidney transplant (47%), nephrotic syndrome (27%), systemic lupus erythematosus (10%). Immunosuppressive medications used include: glucocorticoids (76%), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) (54%), tacrolimus/ciclosporine A (58%), rituximab/ofatumumab (11%). 78% required no respiratory support during COVID-19 illness, 5% required bi-level positive airway pressure or ventilation. Four children died; all deaths reported were from low-income countries with associated comorbidities. There was no significant difference in severity of COVID-19 based on gender, dialysis status, underlying kidney condition, and type or number of immunosuppressive medications. CONCLUSIONS: This global study shows most children with a kidney disease taking immunosuppressive medication have mild disease with SARS-CoV-2 infection. We therefore suggest that children on immunosuppressive therapy should not be more strictly isolated than children who are not on immunosuppressive therapy.