Article
Mycobacterial Infections in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Kidney Transplantation

https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ackd.2018.09.004Get rights and content

Patients with chronic kidney disease have impaired immunity that increases their risk of infection. Increased incidence of mycobacterial infections, in particular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is described in patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis as well as after kidney transplantation in low-prevalence and high-prevalence settings. Diagnosis of this infection can be challenging because of atypical presentations that may lead to treatment delay and, consequently, increased mortality; however, recent advances in molecular testing have improved diagnostic accuracy. It is imperative to try to identify those patients at increased risk and offer adequate prophylaxis. There are controversies and insufficient data regarding treatment agents, duration, and dosages. Most studies in nontuberculous mycobacteria are based on case series and retrospective studies.

Key Words

Infectious disease
Kidney transplant
Chronic kidney disease
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)
Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)

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Conflict of Interest: Neither author has any conflicts of interest to report.

Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests.

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