Infection. 2015 Oct 23. [Epub ahead of print]

Donor-derived tuberculosis after solid organ transplantation in two patients and a staff member.

Bucher JN1, Schoenberg MB2, Freytag I3, Lange U4, Hofmann-Thiel S5,6, Guba MO1, Werner J1, Eder A7, Schelling G3, Stangl M1.

Author information

• 1Department for General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
• 2Department for General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany. markus.schoenberg@med.uni-muenchen.de.
• 3Department for Anesthesiology, University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern, Ludwig-Maximilian-University Munich, Munich, Germany.
• 4Department for General, Visceral, Transplantation, Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
• 5Supranational Reference Laboratory of Tuberculosis, IML red GmbH, Gauting, Germany.
• 6Synlab MVZ Gauting, Gauting, Germany.
• 7Deutsche Stiftung Organtransplantation, Munich, Germany.

Abstract

Because of global mobility and migration resulting in a growing diversity of the donor pool, the risk for donor-derived tuberculosis in solid organ transplant recipients becomes more and more relevant, even in countries with a low overall tuberculosis incidence. Here, we describe a case series of donor-derived tuberculosis in 2 of 3 solid organ transplant recipients and one medical staff member in Germany resulting in the death of one recipient. This case series highlights the relevance of this topic to clinicians. It advocates for a better communication between organ procurement organizations and transplant centers regarding donor information and transplant recipient outcome. Furthermore, it underpins the necessity for a standardized critical incident reporting system in the german transplant system to improve short- and long-term recipient's safety, health and survival.