INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS ADDRESS CHALLENGES OF DRUG-RESISTANT INFECTION IN HEART AND LUNG TRANSPLANT POPULATION
Discussions to address strategies to prevent and treat infection of multi-drug resistant strains
Prague, Czech Republic, April 20, 2012 – Drug-resistant infections are an increasing worldwide problem contributing to significant mortality and morbidity in heart and lung transplant patients. Due to globalization these infections spread and pass geographic barriers easily. It has become apparent that the epidemiology of these infections and how they are best treated is an evolving issue—one that is more complicated than maybe first realized.
Multi-Drug-Resistant infections will be addressed during a symposium today at the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) 32ndAnnual Meeting held in Prague, Czech Republic.
In the United States an estimated 1.7 million are infected by hospital associated infections, from all types of bacteria combined, cause or contribute to 99,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) are a few of the named multi-drug -resistant pathogens currently affecting thoracic transplant patients. Today’s presentations will address the epidemiology of the pathogens, the changing antimicrobial resistance patterns and identifying fresh therapeutic options and preventions.
“As the threat of multi-drug-resistant infections grows, specifically in heart and lung transplant patients, methods of treatment and prevention will be a topic of much discussion moving forward,” said Lara Danziger-Isakov, M.D., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western University School of Medicine and practicing pediatric physician with pediatric infectious diseases in the Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases in the Pediatrics Institute at Cleveland Clinic. “Today’s talks and panel discussions will be the step forward needed to finding positive solutions for thoracic transplant patients.”
Topics include:
- Multi-Drug Resistant Gram Negative Infections: What Are The Options? Amparo Sole, MD, PhD, Hospital Universitario y Politecnico le Fe, Valencia, Spain.
- VRE & MRSA: Can They Be Defeated?, Stanley I. Martin, MD, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH.
- C. difficile: Can We Keep Our Patients Off the Toilet?, Michele Estabrook, MD, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
- Infection Prevention: Get The Bugs Before They Get You!, Frauke Mattner, PhD, Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH, Cologne, Germany.
Aggressive infection control measures and prevention efforts are needed when resistant-epidemic clones are detected. A tailored therapeutic approach is usual in such cases and new antibiotics continue to be required. New modalities including antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies and a vaccine are currently being investigated as potential options.
About ISHLT
The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT) is a not-for-profit professional organization with more than 2,700 members from over 45 countries dedicated to improving the care of patients with advanced heart or lung disease through transplantation, mechanical support and innovative therapies via research, education and advocacy. For more information, visit www.ishlt.org.
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