Kidney transplant and Candida albicans arteritis -: The importance of analysing the transplant conservation liquid

Introduction Candida arteritis can compromise the functional prognosis of the graft or even the life of the transplant recipient. The infection can be transmitted by the graft. Observation A 46 year-old woman contracted a Candida albicans ateritis of the graft following a kidney transplant that led to a detransplantation. The yeast was probably transmitted by the graft from the donor, source of an unknown candida infection: it was found in the conservation liquid of the graft itself, and in the renal artery and vascular pedicle. Analysis of of these three elements by enzymatic electrophoresis showed that they were identical. Commentaries This case report underlines the need to establish guidelines and sanitary safety measures, notably that of systematically placing in culture the concervation solutions and alerting the transplant team if any fungi are isolated. (C) 2004, Masson, Paris.