[The perfusate culture--bacteriologic monitoring of kidney grafts].

Since the kidney recipient's immune system is entirely suppressed, any bacterial contamination from a graft might be hazardous. Major statistics [1,3,4,5] reveal a mortality as high as 10% due to infectious and gastrointestinal complications. From July 1979 to December 1983 114 kidney grafts have been done in our center. After transplantation none of the patients died as a result of complications due to infection. Microbiologic examination of the perfusate is obligatory to detect contamination. It was used in 145 donor nephrectomies; 28% of the perfusate culture samples were positive: In 4 of 5 cases (81%) the bacteria isolated were of the non-pathogenic type seen in the normal flora of the skin (Staphylococcus epidermidis). Introduction of cover drapes lowered the positive culture rate to 8%. Isolation of S. epidermidis after desinfection of the skin (6x) with 70% spore-free alcohol is proof of the extraordinary sensitivity of the method used. The outstanding clinical importance of this method is the rapid information obtained on any contamination and the early suggestion concerning the first choice of antibiotic. Though E.coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were found in the culture, no clinical infection was seen under adequate antimicrobial therapy. Among 114 kidney transplantations in our center no patient died of bacterial infection. Our experience points out that the effect of general antibiotic prophylaxis is negligible. Instead, the effect of early application of antibiotics in accordance with the results of the perfusate culture is superior.