Mycobacterium tuberculosis in lung transplant recipients

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995 Jul;152(1):374-6. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.152.1.7599848.

Abstract

The diagnosis and treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, although difficult in normal hosts, are even more complex in transplant recipients. As a result of the use of immunosuppressive agents, transplant recipients are not only predisposed to primary tuberculous infections, but they are also uniquely at risk for reactivation of latent infection acquired prior to transplantation or transmitted via the donor organ. The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis can be even more elusive in the setting of lung transplantation where other pulmonary complications can make diagnosis difficult. Here we report a case of a patient who died of disseminated M. tuberculosis 12 wk after lung transplantation, and we review tuberculous infections in lung transplant recipients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppression Therapy / adverse effects
  • Lung Diseases, Obstructive / surgery
  • Lung Transplantation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Tissue Donors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / transmission