From the Research
MRSA Swab Sensitivity in Lung Transplant Patients
- The sensitivity of MRSA swabs in lung transplant patients is not directly addressed in the provided studies 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
- However, the studies suggest that MRSA infections are a significant concern in lung transplant patients, with a calculated incidence rate of 76.1 cases per 1,000 transplanted-years 3.
- The epidemiology and outcomes of pretransplant MRSA screening in pediatric solid organ transplant candidates, including lung transplant candidates, have been studied, with results showing that 13% of screened patients were MRSA colonized, with the greatest risk in lung, multivisceral, and cardiac patients with prior cardiothoracic surgery 4.
- The use of aerosolized vancomycin for the treatment of MRSA after lung transplantation has been reported, with successful treatment of an MRSA infection in a lung transplant recipient 5.
- The studies also highlight the importance of MRSA eradication strategies in reducing disease burden and improving outcomes in lung transplant patients 2.
Risk Factors and Outcomes
- Risk factors for MRSA infection in lung transplant patients include mechanical ventilation for > 5 days and isolation of S aureus from recipients' sterility cultures 2.
- Patients with MRSA cultured from the nares or respiratory tract at the time of transplant are at an increased risk for MRSA infection 2.
- MRSA infections in lung transplant patients have been associated with low short-term mortality but increased long-term rates of mortality and acute and chronic rejection 2.
- The rate of MSSA eradication at 2-week post-transplant recipients is high, and it is associated with a low rate of infectious complication within the first 12 weeks after transplant 1.