Infections in transplant recipient

Transplant recipients have weakened immune systems because of the immunosuppressive medications they have to take. This makes them prone to infections. 

Typically, they are at risk of different types of infections depending on how far out they are from transplantation. The risk of infection is often the highest in the immediate post-transplant period and in the setting of organ rejection when the dosages of immunosuppressive medications are the highest. As the transplant recipient recovers, and their immunosuppressive medications are dose reduced, the risk of infections also decreases. 

Infections can be newly acquired by being exposed to microbes after transplant or it can be due to reactivation of dormant infections.