[Lung infection after kidney transplantation. I. Etiology, pathogenesis and clinical picture].

Pulmonary infection is a frequent and serious complication following kidney transplantation. Increased susceptibility to infection is due to a decrease in the patient's immunological response caused by immunosuppression through drug administration, and by other influences. The majority of bacterial sources are gram-negative, often hospital strains. The most important gram-positive bacterium is Staphylococcus aureus. Lung tb occurs with a 10-25 times higher frequency than in the rest of the population. Nocardial and Legionella pneumonias are no exception. Candida and Aspergillus are the most common fungus infections. They affect patients weakened by previous bacterial or virus infections. Cytomegalovirus is the most serious among the latter. The disease is usually accompanied by fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia and hepatitis. Pneumocystic pneumonia is characterized by a rapid progression of hypoxemia without any marked skiagraphical changes. Disseminated toxoplasmosis affects also the central nervous system simultaneously with the lungs, and the clinical picture shows a combination of interstitial pneumonia and a focal neurological finding with consciousness impairment.