Staphylococcus aureus transmitted in transplanted kidneys.

Staphylococcus aureus septicaemia developed shortly after transplantation in both recipients of transplanted kidneys from a donor who had received electrical burns. In each case the organism appeared initially in the urine. All staphylococci isolated were phage type 6/47/54/75. Transplant nephrectomy was necessary in both recipients because of complications of infection, and one recipient died. These results draw attention to the possible significance of Staph. aureus in the urine of recipients after transplantation and to the potential risk of transplanting kidneys from a burned donor.