Abstract
The field of transplant medicine has evolved significantly since the first kidney transplant was performed in 1954. Innovations in transplant immunosuppression have lowered the risk of organ rejection so that infectious complications are now the leading cause of hospitalization and mortality after solid organ transplant. Infection is also cited as the leading cause of non-relapse mortality after stem cell transplantation. As transplant centers have recognized the importance of transplant specific expertise in patient outcomes, the field of transplant infectious diseases has expanded into a recognized and highly valued subspecialty. International growth in solid organ and stem cell transplantation has outpaced access to such expertise, with some centers employing microbiology laboratory directors and transplant nephrologists as their lead infectious diseases consultants. This has been a particular challenge as the use of novel immunosuppressive regimens in new geographic and immigrant populations have fueled the emergence of new infection syndromes, with the initial presentation sometimes occurring in this most vulnerable patient population. This digital-first book is designed to meet the needs of practitioners engaged in transplant infectious disease practice who need more depth than they are able to find in UpToDate. It provides an overview of emerging infectious disease challenges with clinically relevant information regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of infections in solid organ and stem cell transplant recipients. Each chapter focuses on a clinical syndrome or pathogen with new or emerging implications for transplant patients. Given the rapidly evolving nature of emerging infections and topics in transplant infections, no resource has been published on these increasingly notorious issues; this this text is written by top, global experts who regularly update the material to ensure that readers will always have access to the most cutting edge material available. The editorial team consists of three experienced leaders in the field, all of whom have a strong record of scholarship and publication, as well as an international reputation. All three have focused their academic careers on emerging infectious diseases in transplantation, including a current and a past president of various infectious diseases and transplantation societies. The editors are also experienced reviewers and authors who have collaborated on multiple previous projects. All are committed to this project as a unique opportunity to make an important contribution to their field.