Urinary tract infection and wound infection in kidney transplant patients.

The frequency of urinary tract and wound infections was studied in 53 patients most of whom had received kidneys from donors without heart action. Urinary infection was demonstrated soon after the transplantation in 46 out of 47 with functioning kidneys. Recurrent infections took place during the first 3 months and still half of the patients were infected or under treatment 6 months after the operation. The urinary infection seems mainly to arise via indwelling catheters. Wound infections were demonstrated in 18 out of the 53 patients and in addition abscess formation took place in 9 of these. In the majority of the infected wounds previous infected drains were demonstrated. In all, 36 of the patients had infected drains, the use of which therefore is to be avoided.