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The incidence and importance of bacterial contaminants of cadaveric renal perfusion fluid

  • Original Article
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Transplant International

Abstract

Infections represent a significant risk in the postoperative transplant recipient. The perfusion fluid used to perfuse and preserve the kidneys prior to transplantation represents a potential medium in which organisms can grow. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and clinical relevance of bacterial contamination of perfusion fluid. A total of 4 centres participated in the study and 269 perfusion fluid samples were taken for microbiological analysis. Organisms were isolated from 38 out of 218 (17.4%) perfusion fluid samples taken prior to allograft implantation and 23 out of 51 (45%) samples taken at procurement. Low virulence organisms predominated although Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were also isolated. Although infective complications were not seen in the allograft recipients, given the frequency with which contamination occurs and the variation in unit antibiotic protocols, we recommend the routine culturing of perfusion fluid to ensure that any potentially significant organisms are identified and treated appropriately.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the transplant coordinators and theatre staff from the participating hospitals for their cooperation in collecting perfusion fluid samples.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Renal Transplant Unit, Royal Infirmary, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK

    Sonia J. Wakelin, John Casey & John L. R. Forsythe

  2. Renal Transplant Unit, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville , Melbourne, Australia

    Amanda Robertson

  3. Oxford Transplant Centre, The Churchill Hospital, Old Road, Headington Oxford, OX3 7LJ, UK

    Peter Friend

  4. Liver Transplant Unit, Freeman Hospital, Freeman Road, High Heaton Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, NE7 7DN, UK

    Bryon C. Jaques

  5. Paediatric Renal Unit, Guy’s Hospital, St Thomas Street, London, SE1 9RT, UK

    Hester Yorke & Sue P. Rigden

  6. Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Infirmary, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4SA, UK

    Xavier F. S. Emmanuel & Lucia Pareja-Cebrian

  7. Nuffield Department of Surgery University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Peter J. Morris

Authors
  1. Sonia J. Wakelin
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  2. John Casey
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  3. Amanda Robertson
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  4. Peter Friend
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  5. Bryon C. Jaques
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  6. Hester Yorke
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  7. Sue P. Rigden
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  8. Xavier F. S. Emmanuel
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  9. Lucia Pareja-Cebrian
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  10. John L. R. Forsythe
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  11. Peter J. Morris
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sonia J. Wakelin.

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Wakelin, S.J., Casey, J., Robertson, A. et al. The incidence and importance of bacterial contaminants of cadaveric renal perfusion fluid. Transpl Int 17, 680–686 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00147-004-0792-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00147-004-0792-6

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