Fungal Infections

Fungal infections, especially those caused from Candida Albicans, are  serious and frequently fatal complications that usually arise in the early post-transplant period. Antifungal prophylaxis with fluconazole during the first month has been shown to be effective.
Fungal infections mostly occur in patients requiring multiple operative procedures and in patients who have had multiple antibiotic courses.
Invasive aspergillosis is a very rare, usually fatal, complication occurring mainly during the first 6 weeks after transplantation.
Pneumocistis Caryniis causes an interstitial pneumonia, that is sometimes associated with concomitant Cytomegolovirus infection. Bronchoscopy and broncho-alveolar lavage usually provide diagnosis, but in some cases wedge pulmonary biopsy is necessary. Prevention with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, administered during the first year, is effective.