N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando.

Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant

recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

Original Research Article

Study of systemic fungal infections in renal

transplant recipients
N.D. Srinivasaprasad1*, G. Chandramohan1, M. Edwin Fernando2
1

DM (Nephrology), Assistant Professor, 2DM (Nephrology), Professor and Head

Department of Nephrology, Stanley Medical College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
*
Corresponding author email: s.prasad77@yahoo.co.in
International Archives of Integrated Medicine, Vol. 3, Issue 9, September, 2016.
Copy right 2016, IAIM, All Rights Reserved.
Available online at http://iaimjournal.com/
ISSN: 2394-0026 (P)
ISSN: 2394-0034 (O)
Received on: 10-08-2016
Accepted on: 20-08-2016
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None declared.
How to cite this article: N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of
systemic fungal infections in renal transplant recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

Abstract
Background: Despite technical, immunological, and therapeutic advances in the field of renal
transplantation, infections remain a major barrier to successful outcome. Fungal infections (14%) after
renal transplantation, despite a lower incidence than bacterial and viral infections, remain a major
cause of morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to assess the impact of invasive fungal
infections in our renal transplant recipients.
Aim: To study the clinical profile, risk factors for acquiring fungal infections, its outcome and the
factors influencing outcome in living and deceased donor renal transplant recipients.
Materials and methods: Renal transplant recipients both cadaveric and living-related during the time
period between August 2008 and May 2011 admitted with systemic fungal infections in nephrology
ward were included in the study. Data gathered included age, sex, date of transplantation, date of
diagnosis, fungal pathogen, organs affected by infection, treatment and patient outcome. Microsoft
excel 2007, Binomial and Student t tests were used for statistical analysis.
Observation: Twenty two patients were diagnosed with systemic fungal infections during this period.
The mean age of the study patients was 35.55 years. The male to female ratio was 1.75:1.Candida
species (62%) are the commonest organisms causing fungal infection. Fungal infections commonly
occurred in gastrointestinal tract (GIT), lung and urinary tract, each 22%. Fifty percent of patients
with fungal infections expired. Graft loss occurred in 41% of patients.
Conclusion: The mortality rate was 50%. Bone marrow suppression {Leukopenia (50%)} and
hypoalbuminemia (59%) contributed to high mortality. Overall immunosuppression should be
monitored periodically and kept at optimal level just enough to avoid rejection, thereby avoiding
opportunistic infections.

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N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant
recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

Key words
Fungal Infection, Renal transplant recipients, Mortality, Candida species, graft loss.

Introduction
Two major factors for successful organ
transplantation are better control of rejection and
better prevention and treatment of infections [1].
Despite
technical,
immunological,
and
therapeutic advances in the field of renal
transplantation, infections remain a major barrier
to successful outcome. More than 80% of renal
transplant recipients suffer at least one episode of
infection within 1 year of transplantation [2].
Fungal
infections
after
solid
organ
transplantation, despite a lower incidence than
bacterial and viral infections, remain a major
cause of morbidity and mortality [3]. As many
as 14% of renal allograft recipients, 32% of heart
recipients, 35% of heart lung, 38% of pancreas
recipients and 42% of liver recipients have been
reported to develop clinically significant fungal
infections [4]. Among fungi, the responsible
pathogens include Cryptococcus neoformans,
aspergillus
species,
Candida
species,
Coccidioidomyces
immitis,
Histoplasma
capsulatum and Mucormycosis. The occurrence
of invasive fungal infections is highest in the
early
post
transplant
period,
when
immunosuppression is greatest. Prolonged
antifungal therapy and surgical intervention are
needed for control of fungal infections. This
study was conducted to assess the impact of
invasive fungal infections in our renal transplant
recipients.

Aim
To study the clinical profile, risk factors for
acquiring fungal infections, its outcome and the
factors influencing outcome in living and
deceased donor renal transplant recipients.

Materials and methods

Renal transplant recipients both cadaveric and
living-related during the time period between
August 2008 and May 2011 admitted with

systemic fungal infections in nephrology ward

were included in the study.
Detailed history, duration of post transplant
status, nature of immunosuppression, duration
and type of symptoms, and history of other co
morbid illnesses predisposing to fungal
infections like Diabetes Mellitus and viral
infections like HIV, HCV and CMV were taken.
Data gathered included age, sex, date of
transplantation, date of diagnosis, fungal
pathogen, organs affected by infection, treatment
and patient outcome.
General examination and systemic examination
followed by detailed examination of systems
involved like eye, ENT, respiratory tract, GI tract
etc, Were done.
Routine investigations like urinalysis & culture,
complete hemogram, blood sugar, renal function
tests, liver function tests, blood culture (bacterial
and fungal), imaging of brain, Para nasal sinuses,
thorax and abdomen (like X-ray, USG, CT scan)
were done.
Invasive investigations for tissue diagnosis and
cultures like UGI scopy, bronchoscopy, nasal
endoscopy and cystoscopy and tissue biopsy
were done after obtaining written informed
consent from the patient.
Diagnosis was made by radiological findings,
positive blood or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL)
cultures and tissue biopsies. For suspected cases
of
pulmonary
involvement,
fibreoptic
bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage and
transbronchial biopsy was performed. Materials
from transbronchial biopsy were embedded in
paraffin blocks, and sections of 5mm stained
with hematoxylin-eosin. BAL fluids were
cytocentrifuged and stained with Papanicolaou
stain and Gomori methenamine silver stain. BAL

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N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant
recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

fluids were also sent for bacterial, fungal, viral

and mycobacterial culture.
Speciments for fungal isolation are plated on
inhibitory mold media, brain-heart infusion agar,
and mycobiotic agar (Gibco Diagnostics,
Madison, Wisc.) some fungi (Histoplasma
capsulatum) can take up to 25 days to grow.
Fungal cultures were incubated at 30C for at
least 4 weeks. Plates were evaluated daily for the
first 7 days and at least twice per week thereafter.
Diagnosis of invasive fungal infection was made
in the presence of at least one of the following
criteria: 1) histopathological evidence of tissue
invasion on biopsy specimen; 2) positive culture
from deep tissue specimen such as blood,
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), peritoneal fluid; 3)
KOH mount of specimen showing pseudohyphae
and/or budding yeast. For diagnosis of
Cryptococcus, India ink preparation of the
sample (CSF) was done.
In this study esophageal candidiasis was included
as systemic fungal infection. It was diagnosed by
upper GI endoscopy and histopathological
examination of mucosal biopsy.
All the patients were treated with intravenous
Amphotericin B deoxycholate with a maximum
cumulative dose of 1.5 to 2 gms. Those who had
sinusitis due to mucormycosis underwent sinus
surgery. Esophageal candidiasis was also treated
with intravenous Amphotericin B till a
cumulative dose of 500 mg followed by repeat
upper GI scopy. If esophageal candidiasis was
persistent, another 500 mg of intravenous
Amphotericin B was given.
In the above patients, etiology, clinical profile,
risk factors, prognostic indicators and outcome
were analyzed with appropriate statistical
analysis.
Statistical methods
Microsoft excel 2007 was used to calculate
mean. Binomial test was used to analyze factors
predisposing the occurrence of fungal infections.

Student t test was used for analyzing the factors

influencing patient outcome. Differences were
considered to be significant if the p-value was
less than 0.05.

Results
This study was conducted between August 2008
and April 2011, in the Department of
Nephrology, Government General Hospital,
Chennai. Twenty two patients were diagnosed
with systemic fungal infections during this
period. The mean age of the study patients was
35.55 years. The male to female ratio was
1.75:1.The mean duration of disease before renal
transplant for these patients was 16.5 years. And
the mean dialysis duration was 7.8 years.
No significant co-morbidity was observed in
64% of the study population (Tale 1).
Table - 1: Pretransplant co-morbidities in
patients with fungal infections.
Co-morbidity

Number

Percentage

Diabetes mellitus
Systemic
Lupus
Erythematosus (SLE)
Liver disease
Human
Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV)
Hepatitis B Virus
(HBV)
Hepatitis C Virus
(HCV)
Cytomegalo
Virus
(CMV)
Pulmonary
Tuberculosis (TB)
Fungal infection
No co-morbidities
Total

1
1

4.5
4.5

0
0

0
0

4.5

4.5

2
14
22

9
64
100

77.5% of infections were noticed in living donor

renal transplant recipients compared to deceased
donor renal transplant recipients (22.5%).
Among the twenty two patients with fungal
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N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant
recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

infections,
41%
received
Tacrolimus,
Mycophenolate and Prednisolone. Thirty six
percent received Cyclosporine, Azathioprine and
Prednisolone. The rest received Cyclosporine,
Mycophenolate and Prednisolone. Fifty five
percent of fungal infections developed in patients
with early graft dysfunction (within 3 months).

Fifty five percent of patients developed fungal

infections within 6 months. The mean time of
presentation is 12 months (range 0.5-83 months).
Binomial test has been used for analyzing the
Table - 2 (p-value<0.05 is significant).

Table - 2: Factors predisposing the occurrence of fungal infections.

Factors
Present
Absent
Graft Dysfunction (GDF)
20
2
Surgical problems
3
19
New onset diabetes after 6
16
transplant (NODAT)
HBV
2
20
HCV
3
19
CMV
11
11
Bacterial infections
12
10
Anti Rejection Therapy
8
14
Leukopenia
11
11
Anemia (<11g/dl)
9
13
Thrombocytopenia
9
13
Graft dysfunction alone seemed to be the risk
factor for the occurrence of fungal infection.
Though many patients received anti rejection
therapy (ART, 36%) and cytomegalovirus
(CMV, 50%) and bacterial infections (55%),
leukopenia (55%), anemia (41%) and
thrombocytopenia (41%) were present in many
patients, they did not seem to predispose to the
occurrence of fungal infections. (No statistical
significance).
Fungal infections commonly occurred in
gastrointestinal tract (GIT), lung and urinary
tract, each 22%. Other sites were upper
respiratory tract (15%), blood stream (11%) and
central nervous system (CNS, 8%).Fifteen of the
twenty two patients underwent renal biopsy.
Acute cellular rejection (29%) was the
commonest histopathology followed by acute
tubular necrosis. Candida species (62%) is the
commonest organism causing fungal infection.
The other organisms are Mucor (17%),
Aspergillus (13%), Cryptococcus (4%) and
Pneumocystis (4%).

Percentage
91
14
27

P-value
0.001
0.001
0.052

9
14
50
55
36
50
41
41

0.000
0.001
1.000
0.832
0.286
1.000
0.523
0.523

Student t test was used for analyzing the Table 3. P-value <0.05 was considered as significant.
Fifty percent of patients with fungal infections
expired. Graft loss occurred in 41% of patients.
Thirty two percent of patients continued to have
stable graft dysfunction.
Leukopenia and Hypoalbuminemia influenced
patient outcome by contributing to mortality (p
value 0.001). And also more significant
number of deaths occurred in patients who
received renal allograft from living donor (p
value 0.001).

Discussion
This study was conducted in the Department of
Nephrology, Government General Hospital,
Chennai during the period between August 2008
and April 2011. Twenty two patients were
diagnosed with systemic fungal infections during
this period.

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N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant
recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

Table - 3: Factors influencing patient outcome.

Parameter
Deceased donor
Living donor
DGF
ART
NODAT
CMV
Bacterial infection
Thrombocytopenia
Leukopenia
Anemia
Serum Albumin <3.5gm/dI
Graft dysfunction
Candida
Pneumocystis
Mucor
Aspergillus
Cryptococcus
Graft loss
Normal graft function
Stable graft dysfunction

Survived
4
7
4
4
4
5
7
3
2
6
3
9
7
1
1
2
0
3
4
4

The mean age of the study patients was 35.55

years. The male to female ratio was 1.75:1. In a
10 year study done in Iran (from 1998 to 2008),
the mean age of patients was 49 yrs and the male
to female ratio was 4.2:1 [5]. In a study by
Chugh, et al., all patients were males with a
mean age of 31.057.73 years (range 21-42
years) [6].
In our study, living donor renal transplant
recipients acquired 77.5% of infections
compared to deceased donor recipients (22.5%).
In our study, fifty five percent of fungal
infections occurred within 6 months of renal
transplantation. Sixty four percent of infections
occurred within a year. According to Abbott et
al, majority of the fungal infections occurred
within 6 months [7]. In a study by Chugh, et al.,
infection occurred within the first year following
transplantation in seven patients and after the
first year in the others [6]. In a 10 year study
done in Iran (from 1998 to 2008), 74% of

Expired
1
10
3
2
2
6
5
6
9
6
10
11
7
0
3
1
1
6
2
3

P-value
0.001*
0.666
0.362
0.362
0.687
0.416
0.211
0.001*
1
0.001*
0.152
1
0.291
0.557
0.211
0.362
0.666

invasive fungal infections occurred within 1 year.

In another retrospective study (from 1987 to
1997) done in our department, out of 66 episodes
of fungal infection 4 episodes occurred within 1
month; 28 between 1 and 6 months; and 37 after
6 months i.e., nearly 50% of the infections
occurred within 6 months [8]. This phenomenon
may be because of the use of numerous and
higher doses of immunosuppressive agents.
In our study, Candida species (62%) are the
commonest organisms causing fungal infection.
The other common organisms are Mucor (17%)
and aspergillus (13%). Cryptococcus and
pneumocystis constituted 4% each. In a
retrospective study done in our department,
Candida was the commonest pathogen, causing
50 of the fungal infection episodes (72.5%).
Aspergillus
(11
episodes,
4.3%),
and
Mucormycosis (2 episodes, 2.8%) constituted the
rest [8]. In the Iranian study, Mucormycosis
(11/21) was the commonest infection followed
by Candidiasis (4/21) and aspergillus (3/21) [5].
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N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant
recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

In a study by Fishman, et al., Candida and

Aspergillus were the common organisms [9].
Infection with Cryptococcus neoformans was
observed in eight patients (42%), Candida
albicans in seven (37%), Mucor species in two
(11%), aspergillus flavus in one (5.5%), and a
mixed infection with Aspergillus and
Cryptococcus in one patient (5.5%).
In our study, fungal infections commonly
occurred in gastrointestinal tract (GIT), lung and
urinary tract, each 22%. Other sites were upper
respiratory tract (15%), blood stream (11%) and
central nervous system (CNS, 8%). In a
retrospective study done in our department, sites
of infections were GI tract (35, 50.7%),
respiratory tract (18, 26%), urinary tract (8,
11.5%), CNS (3, 4.3%), and graft (2, 2.8%) [8].
The sites of infection were almost similar to the
in the present study.
In the literature, the risk factors for developing
fungal infection in the post renal transplant
setting were the following like deceased donor
and retransplantation, older age, high doses of
immunosuppression for anti rejection treatment,
diabetes mellitus, CMV infection, bacterial
infection with prolonged antimicrobial therapy,
surgical interventions, indwelling catheters and
anatomical abnormalities of the urinary tract
[10]. In our study, graft dysfunction alone
seemed to be a risk factor for the occurrence of
fungal infection. Though many patients received
anti rejection therapy (ART, 36%) and
cytomegalovirus (CMV, 50%) and bacterial
infections (55%), leukopenia (55%), anemia
(41%) and thrombocytopenia (41%) were present
in many patients, they did not predispose to the
occurrence of fungal infections. (No statistical
significance).
In a retrospective study done in our department,
predisposing factors were anti-rejection therapy
in 24 cases, bacterial infections in 19, leukopenia
in 12, tuberculosis in 7, and CMV infection in 5
[8]. This difference may be due to the small
number of patients in the present study. In a
study by Chugh, et al., graft function was normal

at the time of diagnosis in 13 patients (68%)

while it was impaired (serum creatinine
160umol/l) in six patients (32%) [6].
In the retrospective study done in our
department, Six out of 10 diabetic recipients
developed fungal infections [8]. But in our study,
only one patient had pre transplant diabetes
mellitus. He developed fungal infection in the
post transplant period. In a study by Chugh, et
al., apart from immunosuppressive drugs,
predisposing factors included post-transplant
diabetes mellitus in two and leukopenia in two
patients. Concomitant bacterial infections were
present in seven patients [6].
In our study 50% (11/22) of patients with fungal
infection died. In the retrospective study done in
our department, a total of 36 out of 60 patients
with fungal infection died (mortality 60%) [8].
In our study, high percentage of deaths occurred
in patients with mucormycosis (75%, 3 of 4); all
of them had rhino cerebral Mucor with GDF,
post transplant diabetes mellitus and leukopenia.
50% of patients with Candida infections died.
Three had blood stream and urinary tract
infections, the remaining 4 deaths were due to
Candida UTI and bacterial sepsis. All those
patients who had Candida esophagitis survived.
Thirty three percent of patients with Aspergillus
(1 out of 3) and 100% of cryptococcal meningitis
patients died (one patient). In the Iranian study,
52.4% (11/21) of patients died due to fungal
infection, mostly due to Mucormycosis (74%)
[5].
Leukopenia
(11/22,
50%)
and
hypoalbuminemia (13/22, 59%) influenced
patient outcome by contributing to mortality.
And also more significant number of deaths
occurred in patients who received renal allografts
from living donor (10 out of 17, 59%). Their
association was statistically significant.

Conclusion
In our study majority (64%) of fungal infections
occurred in the first year, with Candida as the
commonest fungal pathogen. Those who had
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N.D. Srinivasaprasad, G. Chandramohan, M. Edwin Fernando. Study of systemic fungal infections in renal transplant
recipients. IAIM, 2016; 3(9): 40-46.

prior graft dysfunction developed fungal

infections. The mortality rate was 50%. Bone
marrow suppression {Leukopenia (50%)} and
Hypoalbuminemia (59%) contributed to high
mortality. Overall immunosuppression should be
monitored periodically and kept at optimal level
just enough to avoid rejection, thereby avoiding
opportunistic infections.

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RH,
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5. Behzad Einollahi, et al. Invasive fungal

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