TB Research

1392. Tuberculosis Disease in Recipients of Organ-Transplantation, California 2010–2017

Shereen Katrak, Janice Westenhouse, Pennan M. Barry, Jennifer Flood

Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2019-10

Abstract

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) disease in persons who have received organ transplantation causes high morbidity, but the epidemiology and clinical features of this problem remain poorly described. Methods Using California TB registry data from 2010–2017, we describe clinical features of all TB cases occurring in patients who previously received solid-organ transplantation. We compared TB cases with and without transplant, and examined mortality controlling for age. Results During 8 years of observation, the California TB Registry recorded 116 cases of post-transplant TB. A majority of patients with post-transplant TB were >45 year old (84%), nonwhite (90%), and born outside of the United States (84%). Of 116 cases, 48 (41%) had pulmonary disease, while 68 (59%) had extra-pulmonary or both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary disease, compared with 69% and 31%, respectively, in non-transplant-associated TB (P < 0.01). Common sites of extrapulmonary disease in transplant patients included pleura (19%), cervical lymph nodes (12%), and bone (12%). Controlling for age, transplant cases were nearly twice as likely to die as non-transplant-associated TB cases (OR = 1.92, CI = 1.13, 3.25). Among 49 post-transplant TB cases with a positive TB skin test (TST) or interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), 12 (24%) had the test performed > 6 months prior to TB diagnosis. Conclusion Our findings suggest that post-transplant TB disease is more likely to be extra-pulmonary and result in death than non-transplant-associated TB, and that opportunities may exist for preventing TB disease through screening and treatment for LTBI in this population. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

MeSH terms

  • Medicine
  • Tuberculosis
  • Disease
  • Transplantation
  • Organ transplantation
  • Epidemiology
  • Internal medicine
  • Surgery
  • Pediatrics