Possible donor-recipient bartonellosis transmission in a pediatric liver transplant

TitlePossible donor-recipient bartonellosis transmission in a pediatric liver transplant
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsScolfaro C, Mignone F, Gennari F, Alfarano A, Veltri A, Romagnoli R, Salizzoni M
JournalTransplant infectious disease : an official journal of the Transplantation Society
Volume10
Issue6
Pagination431 - 433
Date PublishedDec
ISSN1399-3062; 1398-2273
Accession NumberPMID: 18651873; TID326 [pii]
KeywordsAmikacin / therapeutic use, Anti-Infective Agents / therapeutic use, Antibodies, Bacterial / blood, Azithromycin / therapeutic use, Bartonella henselae / isolation & purification, Cat-Scratch Disease / diagnosis / drug therapy / etiology / transmission, Child, Humans, Immunosuppressive Agents / administration & dosage, Liver / microbiology / pathology / ultrasonography, Liver Neoplasms / diagnosis / drug therapy / etiology / microbiology, Liver Transplantation / adverse effects, Lymph Nodes / microbiology / pathology / ultrasonography, Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis / diagnosis / drug therapy / etiology / microbiology, Male, Postoperative Complications / diagnosis / etiology / microbiology, RNA, Bacterial / analysis, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / analysis, RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / analysis, Tacrolimus / administration & dosage, Tissue Donors, Transplants / microbiology, Treatment Outcome, Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination / therapeutic use
Abstract

Bartonella henselae is the causative agent of cat-scratch disease and other disorders, including hepatosplenic granulomatosis. This infection has only rarely been reported after solid organ transplantation, where it can mimic the more common post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Here we present a case of asymptomatic B. henselae hepatic and lymph nodal granulomatosis in a pediatric patient who had received orthotopic liver transplant 2 months before; we hypothesize that the causative agent was transmitted from the donor. This infection developed early in the post-transplant period; the disease involved only the graft liver and the regional lymph nodes, and the patient did not have a cat or any history of contact, scratches, or bites by a cat. In our patient this infection resolved successfully with a combination of 2 associated antibiotics and reduction of immunosuppressive therapy.

DOI10.1111/j.1399-3062.2008.00326.x
Alternate JournalTranspl.Infect.Dis.
Notify Library Reference ID1735

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