Comparative risk of bloodstream infection in organ transplant recipients.

To determine relative rates and sources of nosocomial bloodstream infection in solid organ transplant recipients, concurrently collected data on 277 consecutive patients were reviewed. Twenty-eight patients developed 40 infections. Liver recipients experienced a higher rate (28%) than either kidney (5%) or heart, heart-lung (10%). Primary infections (60% overall) caused by gram-positive bacteria (59% overall) predominated at all three sites.