ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Clinical Outcomes of Culture-Positive Pneumonia in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

L. Rice1, A. C. Kalil2, D. Hixson2, M. Leick3

1Monument Health, Rapid City, SD, 2University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 3Nebraska Medicine, Omaha, NE

Meeting: 2021 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: 759

Keywords: Bacterial infection, Infection, Pneumonia

Topic: Clinical Science » Infectious Disease » All Infections (Excluding Kidney & Viral Hepatitis)

Session Information

Session Name: All Infections (Excluding Kidney & Viral Hepatitis)

Session Type: Poster Abstract

Session Date & Time: None. Available on demand.

Location: Virtual

*Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the differences in clinical outcomes of culture-positive pneumonia in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients compared to non-SOT patients.

*Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult inpatients with positive bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or sputum cultures. SOT patients were matched 1:2 to non-SOT patients based on age and gender. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included 90-day mortality, time-to-appropriate antibiotics, antibiotic duration, days on ventilator, hospital length of stay (LOS), and hospital readmission.

*Results: This study included 73 SOT and 146 matched non-SOT patients. The average age was 54.7 years; 67.6% were male. The majority were Caucasian (87.7% vs 82.2%, p=0.3). Of the SOT patients, the majority were kidney (30.1%) and liver (20.6%) recipients. Average time post-transplant was 6.4±8 years. Regarding baseline characteristics, SOT recipients were more likely to have hypertension (72.6% vs 58.2%, p=0.04), diabetes (43.8% vs 29.5%, p=0.03), and end-stage renal disease (12.3% vs 0.7%, p=0.0001). In-hospital mortality for SOT recipients was not statistically significantly different compared to non-SOT (27.4% vs 18.5%, p=0.13). Hospital LOS was longer for SOT recipients (34.9 vs 25.3 days, p=0.03) and time to readmission was shorter (19.6 vs 26.6 days, p=0.03). Other secondary outcomes were similar between groups. In terms of cultures, SOT recipients were more likely to have BAL cultures (42.5% vs 28.1%, p=0.03). The most common organisms were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (31.5% vs 23.3%, p=0.09), Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (9.6% vs 22.6%, p=0.045), Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (13% vs 13.7%, p=0.68), Klebsiella pneumonia (6.8% vs 11%, p=0.45), and Escherichia coli (9.6% vs 8.9%, p=0.69). The most common initial and appropriate antibiotics were vancomycin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and cefepime. Combination antibiotics were initiated in most patients (64.4 vs 63.7%, p=0.92). Appropriate antibiotic duration was similar (9.1 vs 13.2 days, p=0.31), but SOT recipients were more likely to not receive appropriate antibiotics (21.9% vs 11.6%, p=0.03).

*Conclusions: In-hospital mortality in SOT recipients was not significantly different from that in non-SOT patients. SOT recipients had a significantly longer hospital LOS, shorter time to readmission and were less likely to receive appropriate antibiotics.

  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Rice L, Kalil AC, Hixson D, Leick M. Clinical Outcomes of Culture-Positive Pneumonia in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2021; 21 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/clinical-outcomes-of-culture-positive-pneumonia-in-solid-organ-transplant-recipients/. Accessed June 5, 2025.

« Back to 2021 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences