Mycobacterial infections in renal transplant recipients. Seven cases and a review of the literature

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Abstract
During an 11 yr period, 1069 patients received renal allografts at the University of Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis (USA); infections developed in 7 (0.65%) due to mycobacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. kansasii). The primary infection was in joint or s.c. tissue in 6 patients and pulmonary (miliary) in 1. Infections in joint or skin shared common features regardless of the Mycobacterium sp. and usually mimicked acute pyogenic bacterial infection; all responded to antimycobacterial drugs. The clinical manifestations in the patient with miliary tuberculosis were compared with those of 19 other patients described in the literature. Although their systemic manifestations were more severe, the symptoms were often ill-defined and the diagnosis overlooked. Five of these 20 patients (25%) died of uncontrolled infection.