Background:Reducing post-operative infections among kidney transplant patients is
critical to improve long-term outcomes. With shifting disease demographics
and implementation of new transplantation protocols, frequent evaluation of
infection rate and type is necessary.Objective:Our objectives were to assess the incidence and types of post-operative
infections in kidney transplant recipients at a large tertiary-care facility
and determine sample sizes needed for future intervention trials.Design:Retrospective cohort study.Setting:The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario.Patients:Adult kidney transplant patients, N = 142.Measurements:Demographic data, transplant protocol, infections up to 2 years following
transplantation.Methods:Infections within 2 years following transplantation in all kidney transplant
recipients between January 2011 and December 2012 were reviewed. Sample
sizes were determined using all-cause infection rates and infection-free
survival data.Results:Of 142 patients, 44 (31.0%) had at least one infection. The incidence of
infection was 36.2 per 100 patient-years by 2 years post-transplant. A total
of 32 (22.5%) patients had 56 infection-related hospitalizations with 73.2%
occurring in the first year. In the first 2 years, urinary tract infections
had the highest incidence (18.1 per 100 patient-years) followed by skin (3.9
per 100 patient-years), cytomegalovirus (3.9 per 100 patient-years), and
bacteremia (3.9 per 100 patient-years). Results indicate that 206 patients
per study arm would be needed to show a 30% reduction in the 2-year
incidence of infection post-transplantation.Limitations:Infection rates may be slightly underestimated due to the relatively short
2-year follow-up; however, the highest infection-risk period was captured
within this time frame.Conclusions:Infections post-kidney transplant are still common, particularly urinary
tract infections. They are associated with significant morbidity and
hospitalization. Given the feasible sample sizes calculated in this study,
intervention trials are indicated to further reduce infection rates within
the first 2 years post-kidney transplantation.