Infectious disease complications of transplant tourism

Figures & data

Table 1. Post-transplant tourism screening upon return to usual location of residence

Screening tests that should be performed upon return of the recipient to their home country

Serology for hepatitis B and C

Hepatitis B surface antigen or nucleic acid testing

Hepatitis C nucleic acid testing

HIV-1/2 antibody or 4th generation HIV antigen/antibody assay

Cytomegalovirus IgG and viral load

Syphilis serology screening

Toxoplasma IgG (especially with heart transplant)

Blood, urine, and sputum cultures as clinically indicated

Tuberculosis screening (purified protein derivative or interferon-γ release assay)

Examples of testing to consider if ill, based on geographic location of transplant and/or symptoms (this is not an exhaustive list; refer also to reference works [7])

Blood, urine, and sputum cultures as clinically indicated

Diagnostic testing for malaria

Strongyloides antibody or stool examination

Trypanosoma cruzi antibody and molecular diagnostic testing

Toxoplasma nucleic acid testing (PCR)

Histoplasma antibody and antigen testing

Coccidioides immitis antibody and antigen testing

Hepatitis E antibody and nucleic acid testing

Brucella antibody

Cryptococcus antigen

Martin-Davila P, Fortun J, Lopez-Velez R, et al. Transmission of tropical and geographically restricted infections during solid-organ transplantation. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2008 Jan;21(1):60–96.

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