Nephrology Case Report: The role of the gastrointestinal microbiota and potential therapeutic options.

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Nephrology  Case Report: The role of the gastrointestinal microbiota and potential therapeutic options.

Abstract

Infectious complications are common following kidney transplantation and rank in the top five causes of death in patients with allograft function. Over the last 5 years, there has been emerging evidence that changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota following kidney transplantation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of transplant‐associated infections. Different factors have emerged which may disrupt the interaction between the gastrointestinal microbiota and the immune system, which may lead to infective complications in kidney transplant recipients. Over the last 5 years, there has been emerging evidence that changes in the gastrointestinal microbiota following kidney transplantation may play a key role in the pathogenesis of transplant‐associated infections. This review will discuss the structure and function of the gastrointestinal microbiota, the changes that occur in the gastrointestinal microbiota following kidney transplantation and the factors underpinning these changes, how these changes may lead to transplant‐associated infectious complications and potential treatments which may be instituted to mitigate this risk.

 

vancomycin resistant enterococci

Infectious complications following kidney transplantation cause significant morbidity and mortality.1 In Australia, infections account for approximately 22% of deaths in the kidney transplant population, and 75% of these deaths occur in individuals with a functioning graft.2 Consistent with this disease burden, the Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology Group on Transplantation has identified infection as a core outcome,3 which should be reported in all transplant trials. Indeed, patients, caregivers and clinicians consider infection to be one of the most critical outcomes in transplantation. As such, there has been a focus on trying to elucidate the pathogenesis of transplant‐associated infections and approaches to mitigate this burden.

Best Regards
Sarah Jhonson
Managing Editor
International Journal of Case Reports
Email: caserep@emedicalsci.org