A 2010 Working Formulation for the Standardization of Definitions of Infections in Cardiothoracic Transplant Recipients

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Published 1 April 2011

Shahid Husain, MD, MS; Martha L. Mooney, MD, MS, FACP; Lara Danziger-Isakov, MD, MPH; Frauke Mattner, MD, PhD, Nina Singh, MD; Robin Avery, MD, FIDSA; Michael Ison, MD, MS; Atul Humar, MD, MSc; Robert F. Padera, MD, PhD; Leo P. Lawler, MD, FRCR; Andy Fisher, PhD, FRCP; Richard J. Drew, MD; Kate F. Gould, MBBS, MRCP, FRCP; Amparo Sole, MD, PhD; Sean Studer, MD, MSc; Patricia Munoz, MD; Lianne G. Singer, MD, FRCPC; Margaret Hannan, MD, FRCP, FRCPath; for the ISHLT Infectious Diseases Council Working Group on Definitions

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2011 Apr;30(4):361-74

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  • Standards Statement

In the absence of standardized diagnosis and the presence of unique clinical syndromes, it is not surprising that considerable differences exist in the number of reported incidences of disease and the outcomes of various infections in cardiothoracic transplant (CTTX) recipients. Publications to date have employed variable and heterogeneous definitions of CTTX-related infections, thereby limiting the comparison between the types and incidence of infections and the generalizability of these data across transplant centers. Currently, there are no standard international definitions for infections uniquely related to CTTX, with the exception of Chagas disease and toxoplasmosis.

The purpose of the present working formulation is to provide consensus-derived expert opinion of definitions for infections in CTTX for epidemiologic, research and registry data use. Standard definitions of infections specifically related to CTTX will allow for meaningful comparison of the type and incidence of these infections between different types of CTTXs, different regimens of immunosuppression and between different transplant centers, thereby improving the reporting of infection-related morbidity and mortality after cardiothoracic transplantation. The definitions proposed herein are suitable for epidemiologic investigations and are intended to facilitate clinical decision-making.

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