Screening Coccidioides serology in kidney transplant recipients: A 10-year cross-sectional analysis

Resource type
Journal Article
Authors/contributors
Title
Screening Coccidioides serology in kidney transplant recipients: A 10-year cross-sectional analysis
Abstract
Background Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at risk for reactivation and complicated infection due to Coccidioides. Pre-transplant serological screening should provide benefit for patients from endemic areas. We evaluated Coccidioides seroprevalence by area of residence in KTRs at a major transplant program in Los Angeles. Methods We performed cross-sectional analyses of adult KTRs who underwent transplantation at UCLA between 2007-2016. Patients with Coccidioides serology by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) before or within 14 days from transplantation were included. Patients were classified as living in highly, established, suspected, or not endemic areas by their residential zip code. Results Overall prevalence of Coccidioides IgG and IgM were 1.4% and 2.8%, respectively. Of patients with positive serology, 31.4% had isolated IgG and 66.3% isolated IgM. Patients from established and highly endemic areas had IgG seropositivity of 3.7% versus 1.3% for patients living in suspected endemic areas(P < .01). Rates of IgM seropositivity were 3.7% compared to 2.8% respectively (P = .28). No patients from non-endemic areas had positive screening serology. Conclusions Pre-transplant serological screening for Coccidioides is recommended in kidney transplant candidates from endemic areas. We observed high seroprevalence among patients from highly and established endemic areas, for whom universal prophylaxis is recommended. For residents from less well-established areas of endemicity, serological screening showed benefit in identifying patients at risk. In patients with isolated EIA IgM, performing repeat and confirmatory tests is recommended. Patients from non-endemic areas had low risk of infection, however, a thorough social history is necessary to evaluate risk.
Publication
Transplant Infectious Disease
Date
2018
Volume
20
Issue
5
Pages
e12932
Accessed
12/13/18, 6:06 PM
ISSN
1399-3062
Short Title
Screening Coccidioides serology in kidney transplant recipients
Language
en
Library Catalog
Wiley Online Library
License
© 2018 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Citation
Phonphok, K., Beaird, O., Duong, T., Datta, N., Schaenman, J., & Bunnapradist, S. (2018). Screening Coccidioides serology in kidney transplant recipients: A 10-year cross-sectional analysis. Transplant Infectious Disease, 20(5), e12932. https://doi.org/10.1111/tid.12932