Introduction: Renal transplantation is the most effective treatment method for patients with the end-stage renal disease. The most common infections among these patients are urinary tract infections (UTI). Our main objective in this study is to determine the incidence of UTIs in patients who have undergone renal transplantation in our hospital, identify the causative microbiological agents, risk factors and determine the effects of UTI on short-term graft survival.

Materials and methods: Adult patients, who underwent renal transplantation between October 2011 and July 2016, were included in this study. Demographic characteristics and laboratory data were retrospectively collected from the hospital archive and electronic data system. Urinary tract infections developed within the first year of renal transplantation were investigated. Patients were compared regarding demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and graft survival.

Results: 77 patients were included in our study. Forty patients (51.9%) were male and 37 (48.1%) were female. Fifty-four urinary tract infection attacks in 18 patients were recorded. Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most frequently isolated microorganisms. Of these bacteria, 68.6% were found as ESBL (extended spectrum beta lactamase) positive. Statistical analysis revealed that the advanced patient age (p=0.002; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0,764-0,940) and longer hospital stay during renal transplantation (p=0.031; 95% CI 0,673-0,981) are independent risk factors. UTI with resistant microorganism was found higher rates in male patients (23/25 attacks in males vs. 15/29 attacks in females, p=0,02) however in regression analysis none of the studied factor was found to be correlated. UTI had no negative impact on short-term graft survival.

Conclusion: Advanced age is an independent risk factor for UTIs and these patients should be followed-up carefully regarding UTI. Prevention of prolonged hospitalization and limitation of unnecessary antibiotic use in transplant patients should be considered. Since there is a high incidence of UTI in male transplant patients more frequently caused by resistant microorganisms in our cohort, infection control methods should be applied more vigorously especially in male transplant patients.

CITATION INFORMATION: Guneri G., Velioglu A., Asicioglu E., Arikan H., Tuglular S., Ozener C. Urinary Tract Infections after Renal Transplantation: Is Male Gender a Risk Factor for Resistant Microorganisms? Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).

« Back to 2018 American Transplant Congress