Comparison of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test with the tuberculin skin test for detecting latent tuberculosis infection in hemodialysis patients

Background and objective

Systemic fungal infections after renal transplantation

In a retrospective evaluation. the incidence of systemic fungal infections (SFIs) in 296 kidney graft recipients admitted to our center between 1986 and 1999 was found to be 4%. Eighteen percent of 28 recipients transplanted in India and 8% of 12 recipients transplanted in Russia developed SFI. In contrast, SFI was encountered in only 2% of recipients transplanted at our center. The median time of diagnosis of SFI was 5 months after transplantation. The lungs and central nervous system were the most frequently affected sites. The most common etiologic agent was Aspergillus fumigatus (n=7) but Candida spp. (n = 1), Rhizopus spp. (n = 1) and Cryptococcus neoformans (n = 1) were also encountered. In 2 patients, 2 different pathogens were isolated at the same time: A. fumigatus and Rhizopus spp. in I patient and Candida spp. and A. fumigatus in another. In order to determine predisposing factors for SFI, patients admitted immediately before and after those with SFI were used as controls: long-term hospitalization, long-term antibiotic use and post-transplant diabetes mellitus were found to be predisposing factors. Eight patients were treated with antifungal drugs and a good response to liposomal amphotericin B therapy was obtained in 3/5. Nine patients (75%) with SFI died. As SFIs are associated with a high mortality rate in renal transplant recipients, antifungal therapy, especially with liposomal amphotericin B, should be started whenever fungal infection is suspected, even before the results of microbiologic and/or histologic examinations are known

Dental and periodontal findings in hemodialysis patients

Objective: Oral health problems of chronic renal failure patients can compromise systemic health. This study compared the periodontal and dental health status of patients on hemodialysis (HD) with healthy controls (C)

Dental and periodontal findings in hemodialysis patients

Objective: Oral health problems of chronic renal failure patients can compromise systemic health. This study compared the periodontal and dental health status of patients on hemodialysis (HD) with healthy controls (C)