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Outbreak Investigations

CDC Expert Commentary

 

Transplant Safety: Recognizing Donor-Derived Infections  Microsporidiosis is an emerging transplant-associated infection, and CDC depends on astute clinicians to recognize the signs of this and other donor-derived diseases. February 2014

Estimates of Infection

Currently, about 1-2% of recipients acquire an unexpected disease transmission, including malignancies, through an organ transplant.

Published Reports of Infectious Diseases Transmitted through Transplantation – United States (2000 – 2012)

Virus Transmissions

  • Public Health Dispatch: West Nile Virus Infection in Organ Donor and Transplant Recipients — Georgia and Florida, 2002. MMWR, 2002. 51(35):790.
  • Update: Investigation of West Nile Virus infections in recipients of organ transplantation and blood transfusion – Michigan, 2002. MMWR, 2002. 51(39):879.
  • Hepatitis C Virus Transmission from an Antibody-Negative Organ and Tissue Donor — United States, 2000–2002. MMWR, 2003. 52(13):273-276.
  • Srinivasan, A., et al., Transmission of rabies virus from an organ donor to four transplant recipients. N Engl J Med, 2005. 352(11):1103-11.
  • West Nile Virus Infections in Organ Transplant Recipients — New York and Pennsylvania, August–September, 2005. MMWR, 2005. 54(40):1021-1023.
  • Fischer, S.A., et al., Transmission of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus by organ transplantation. N Engl J Med, 2006. 354(21):2235-49.
    Brief Report: Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus Transmitted Through Solid Organ Transplantation — Massachusetts, 2008. MMWR, 2008. 57(29):799-801.
  • West Nile Virus Transmission via Organ Transplantation and Blood Transfusion — Louisiana, 2008. MMWR, 2009. 58(45):1263-1267.
  • Ison, M.G., Llata, E, Conover, C S, et al., Transmission of human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C from an organ donor to four transplant recipients. Am J Transplant, 2011. 11(6):1218-1225.
  • HIV Transmitted from a Living Organ Donor — New York City, 2009. MMWR, 2011. 60(10):297-301.
  • Notes from the Field: Transplant-Transmitted Hepatitis B Virus – United States, 2010. MMWR, 2011. 60(32):1087.
  • Potential Transmission of Viral Hepatitis through Use of Stored Vessels as Conduits in Organ Transplantation – Pennsylvania, 2009. MMWR, 2011. 60(6):172-174.
  • Transmission of hepatitis C virus through transplanted organs and tissue—Kentucky and Massachusetts, 2011 [published erratum appears in MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2012;61(4):80]. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011;60(50):1697-700.
  • MacNeil, A., et al. Solid organ transplant-associated lymphocytic choriomeningitis, United States, 2011, Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2012. 18(8):1256-1262

Bacteria Transmissions

  • Septic Arthritis Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Tendon Allografts — Florida and Louisiana, 2000. MMWR, 2001. 50(48): p. 1081-1083.
  • Update: Allograft-Associated Bacterial Infections — United States, 2002. MMWR, 2002. 51(10): p. 207-210.
  • Clostridial Endophthalmitis after Cornea Transplantation — Florida, 2003. MMWR, 2003. 52(48): p. 1176-1179.
  • Invasive Streptococcus pyogenes After Allograft Implantation — Colorado, 2003. MMWR, 2003. 52(48): p. 1173-1176.
  • Winthrop, K.L., et al., Transmission of mycobacterium tuberculosis via lung transplantation. Am J Transplant, 2004. 4(9): p. 1529-33. Kainer, M.A. Linden JV, Whaley DN, Holmes HT, Jarvis WR, Jemigan DB, Archibald LK. Clostridium infections associated with musculoskeletal-tissue allografts. N Engl J Med, 2004. 350(25): p. 2564-71.
  • Transplantation-Transmitted Tuberculosis — Oklahoma and Texas, 2007. MMWR, 2007. 57(13): p. 333-336.
  • Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant Escherichia coli through Kidney Transplantation – California and Texas, 2009. MMWR, 2010. 59(50): p. 1642-1646.
  • Cartwright, E.J., et al., Transmission of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (formerly Chryseobacterium meningosepticum) to tissue-allograft recipients: a report of two cases. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2010. 92(6): p. 1501-6.

Fungus Transmissions

  • Alexander, B.D., et al., Fatal Apophysomyces elegans infection transmitted by deceased donor renal allografts. Am J Transplant, 2010. 10(9): p. 2161-7.
  • Engelthaler, D.M., et al. Next-generation sequencing of Coccidioides immitis isolated during cluster investigation. Emerg Infect Dis, 2011. 17(2): p. 227-32.
  • Baddley, J.W., et al. Transmission of Cryptococcus neoformans by Organ Transplantation. Clin Infect Dis, 2011. 52(4): p. e94-8.

Parasite Transmissions

  • Chagas Disease after Organ Transplantation – United States, 2001. MMWR, 2002. 51(10): p. 210-212.
  • Chagas Disease after Organ Transplantation – Los Angeles, California, 2006. MMWR, 2006. 55(29): p. 798-800.
  • Kun, H, et al. Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi by heart transplantation, Clin Infect Dis, 2009. 48:1534-40.
  • Balamuthia mandrillaris Transmitted through Organ Transplantation – Mississippi, 2009. MMWR, 2010. 59(36):1165-1170.
  • Notes from the Field: Transplant-Transmitted Balamuthia mandrillaris — Arizona, 2010. MMWR, 2010. 59(36):1182.
  • Transmission of Strongyloides stercoralis through transplantation of solid organs – Pennsylvania, 2012.  MMWR, 2013. 62(14);264-266.
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