Infections after renal transplantation

Abstract Renal transplantation is the treatment-of-choice for a significant number of patients with end-stage renal disease. Prophylaxis, diagnosis and treatment of infections are cornerstones in the management of transplant patients. There are a number of opportunistic and rare pathogens in the immunosuppressed transplant patient population, whose early detection is essential for an optimized and targeted treatment. As the immunosuppressive regimen is adopted after transplantation and due to a potentially delayed reactivation of latent diseases, certain infections can occur in defined time intervals following transplantation. The present review summarizes the common and some of the rare diseases caused by the broad microbiological spectrum in kidney transplant recipients and the respective therapeutic options.