Continuous function of 80 primary renal allografts for 30-47 years with maintenance prednisone and azathioprine/mycophenolate mofetil therapy: A clinical mosaic of long-term successes.

Eighty primary renal allograft recipients, 61 living-related and 19 deceased donor, transplanted from 1963 through 1984 had continuous graft function for 30-47 years. They were treated with three different early immunosuppression programs (1963-1970: thymectomy, splenectomy, high oral prednisone; 1971-1979: divided-dose intravenous methylprednisolone; and 1980-1984: antilymphocyte globulin) each with maintenance prednisone and azathioprine, and no calcineurin inhibitor. Long-term treatment often included the anti-platelet medication, dipyridamole.

Complex prosthetic joint infections due to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae: a unique challenge in the era of untreatable infections.

Objectives: Limited clinical experience exists regarding the management of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative organisms. We review three cases of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) complicating PJI.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients at a tertiary care institution with CRKP complicating PJI between January 2007 and December 2010.

Challenges of interferon-γ release assay conversions in serial testing of health-care workers in a TB control program.

Background: Clinical data with use of serial interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) testing in US health-care workers (HCWs) are limited.

Methods: A single-center, retrospective chart review was done from 2007 to 2010 of HCWs who underwent preemployment QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube testing. Demographic data, bacille Calmette-Guérin history, prior tuberculin skin test result if done, and baseline and serial IGRA values were obtained.

Endovascular infections caused by Histoplasma capsulatum: a case series and review of the literature.

Context: Endovascular infection is an uncommon but devastating manifestation of histoplasmosis, which is often diagnosed late in disease.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical and pathologic characteristics of patients with endovascular infections caused by Histoplasma capsulatum.

Design: All cases of patients with documented endovascular histoplasmosis at a single tertiary care center in an endemic region during the period 1993-2010 were reviewed.