Transplant Surgery

• Antibiotic – Bactrim (Sulfamethoxazole / Trimethoprim, SMZ / TMP)
• Antibiotic – Mepron (Atovaquone)

• Antiviral – Valcyte (Valganciclovir)

• Antiviral – Valtrex (Valacyclovir)
  

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• Anytime a person’s immune system is suppressed they are at an increased risks for infections.
  
  
• Proper hygiene, especially hand-washing, is essential to prevent infections.
  
  
• It is important to make sure that you have been adequately vaccinated prior to the transplant (i.e. pneuomococcal vaccine, flu-vaccine, etc).
  
  
• In order to help prevent you from getting an infection after the transplant we will be placing you on two different types of antibiotics.
  
  
• You will receive one medication that is active against a type of pneumonia.
  
  
• Kidney transplant patients are at high-risk for developing a pneumonia called Pneumocystis jiroveci (formerly known as Pneumocystis carinii or PCP).
  
  
• This germ is spread in the air and is common all over the world. Since you cannot avoid being exposed to this germ, you will receive a medication to prevent this infection.
  
  
• The most common medication used to prevent this pneumonia is called Bactrim, which is a sulfa-drug. 
  
  
• Some patients have an allergy to sulfa-drugs.  If you are allergic to Bactrim, you will receive another medication called Mepron.
  
  
• You will receive a second medication that is active against viral infections.
  
  
• Cytomegalovirus or CMV, is a virus that is common in about 70% of Americans. 
  
  
• People are usually infected by the time they are 2 years old or during their teenage years.
  
  
• Many people are infected with CMV and don't even know it because CMV usually does not cause long-term problems.
  
  
• CMV is only spread through contact with an infected person's body fluids (such as saliva, blood, urine, semen or breast milk). It can be sexually transmitted or transmitted through an organ transplant.
  
  
• Both you and your donor will be tested to see if you have ever been exposed to this virus.
  
  
• If either you or your donor have been exposed to the CMV virus, then you will receive a medication called Valcyte (valganciclovir). 
  
  
• If both you and the donor have never been exposed to the CMV virus, then you will receive a medication called Valtrex (valacyclovir).

•  If either you or your donor have been exposed to the CMV virus, then you will receive a medication called Valcyte (valganciclovir), which is very effective at preventing the CMV virus from causing an infection.

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Antiviral – Valtrex (Valacyclovir)

• If both you and the donor have never been exposed to the CMV virus, then you will receive a medication called Valtrex (valacyclovir), which is used to prevent an infection from Herpes Virus. 

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Disclaimer:

This site is not an attempt to practice medicine or provide specific medical advice, and should not be used to make a diagnosis or to replace or overrule a qualified health care provider's judgment. Nor should users rely upon the BWH web site if they might need emergency medical treatment. We strongly encourage users to consult with a qualified health care professional for answers to personal questions.