trimethoprim--sulfamethoxazole-drug-combination and Fractures--Bone

Concern persists that prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients will be associated with an increase in late allograft dysfunction and graft loss. We herein report 5-year follow-up of a trial of prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression. From October 1, 1999, through January 31, 2005, at our center, 589 kidney transplant recipients were treated with a protocol incorporating discontinuation of their prednisone on postoperative day 6. At 5 years, actuarial patient survival was 91%; graft survival, 84%; death-censored graft survival, 92%; acute rejection-free graft survival, 84% and chronic rejection-free graft survival, 87%. The mean serum creatinine level (+/-SD) at 1 year was 1.6 +/- 0.6; at 5 years, 1.7 +/- 0.8. In all, 86% of kidney recipients with functioning grafts remain prednisone-free as of April 30, 2005. As compared with historical controls, recipients on prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression had a significantly lower rate of a number of complications, including cataracts (p < 0.001), posttransplant diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), avascular necrosis (p = 0.001), and fractures (p = 0.004). We conclude that prednisone-related side effects can be minimized in a protocol incorporating prednisone-free maintenance immunosuppression. Five-year graft outcome remains good.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antiviral Agents; Cataract; Clotrimazole; Cohort Studies; Creatinine; Dapsone; Diabetes Mellitus; Fractures, Bone; Ganciclovir; Graft Rejection; Graft Survival; Humans; Immunosuppression Therapy; Immunosuppressive Agents; Kidney Transplantation; Necrosis; Nystatin; Pentamidine; Prednisone; Time Factors; Transplantation, Homologous; Treatment Outcome; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Valganciclovir

An open thumb fracture resulting from an alligator bite became infected with Aeromonas hydrophila, Enterobacter agglomerans, and Citrobacter diversus. The patient was treated by surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. We obtained cultures from the mouth of ten alligators to characterize their oral flora. Initial empiric therapy after alligator bites should be directed at gram-negative species, in particular, Aeromonas hydrophila and anaerobic species including Clostridium. Of the numerous fungi that were isolated, none has been reported to result in wound infection after alligator bites.

Topics: Adult; Aeromonas; Alligators and Crocodiles; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacterial Infections; Bites and Stings; Drug Combinations; Fractures, Bone; Humans; Male; Reptiles; Southeastern United States; Sulfamethoxazole; Thumb; Trimethoprim; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Water Microbiology