Early conservative intervention for candida contamination of preservative fluid without allograft nephrectomy

BACKGROUND: Fungal contamination of kidney allograft preservative fluid can lead to renal arteritis and arterial wall rupture. METHODS: We have evaluated a conservative management strategy based onearly antifungal therapy, rigorous morphological monitoring of the graft artery and surgical second look (SSL). Since November 2004, preservative fluid was routinely cultured on specific media for all kidney transplant recipients. RESULTS: In 8/474 cases, results were positive for Candida (albicans 5, glabrata 2, tropicalis 1). Two patients also had candida infection of drainage fluid leading to the diagnosis of operative site infection. Radiological and surgical examinations of the renal graft artery were normal in all cases and nephrectomy was not required. At 12 months, all patients were alive with a functioning allograft. CONCLUSION: Early antifungal therapy with microbiological and morphological follow-up should be recommended as soon as contamination is detected, but SSL is advised only in patients with risk factors for arterial anomalies.