Perspective on donor-derived infections in Italy

Background: Expected and unexpected donor-derived infections (DDI) are a rare event in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients but are potentially associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To assure the microbial safety of transplantation, both national guidelines and the current, regional, and local epidemiology of infectious diseases must be considered.

Methods: In the present paper the strategies adopted by the Italian National Center for Transplantation (CNT) since 2003 and their evolution to guarantee the safety of organ transplantation are reported. Starting in 2012 mandatory reporting to the CNT of all adverse reactions was started. The number and type of DDI reported to the CNT are currently being analyzed.

Results: The infectious diseases second opinion has written and updated the guidelines on the safety of organs for transplantation and supported the Italian transplant network for the use of organs from donors with suspected or documented potentially transmissible infections.

Conclusion: A transplant safety network was developed in Italy in 2003 and has been updated according to the evolving knowledge and the changing epidemiology. This is an evolving field, and a continuous update of the recommendation is needed.