A successful transplantation of an organ gives you a lease of life, helps to live better and fuller. While finding a suitable donor is difficult, recovering from a transplantation surgery is not much easier. There can be a risk of infection. At Infectious Diseases Center, Hyderabad, we have an extensive medical facility that addresses such infections.
What Are Post-Transplant Infections?
Infection is an attack by germs at the site of a wound. After you have gone through surgical transplantation of an organ, there will be a surgical wound. The visible section of the wound is left exposed to external threats from germs. An external infection can spread inside or an internal factor may infect the wound inside. Such kind of infection is called post-transplant infection.
How Can You Know If Your Transplant Is Getting Infected?
If the infection is on the surgical wound, the signs of infection will be visible mostly on the wound. Watch out for the following symptoms of Post-transplant infections:
- Unusual warmth
- Swelling
- Excessive pain and itching
- Redness spreading
- Pus or pus-like discharge
- Unusual odour
- Fever
- Any other abnormality
If the infection is under the skin, the health risk is higher. The infection may spread through the bloodstream and you may experience different symptoms – sometimes within the same organ system and sometimes in other organ systems as well.
Organ transplantation is a major surgery. Naturally, during the recovery period, your immune system is overworked and may be weakened. You must take extra care to save yourself from secondary infections like flu, dengue, typhoid, TB, etc.
The risk of post-transplant infection is higher in children, older patients, diabetic patients, and patients who are, in general, more prone to infections.
How Are Post-Transplant Infections Treated?
The course of treatment for post-transplant infections can be determined after careful evaluation of the infection. Depending on the type of pathogen and the extent of the infection, a treatment regimen is built.
Generally, first, you will go through an anti-microbial therapy. The exact nature of medicine will vary. The medicines can be oral or intravenous. If you are allergic or resistant to certain medicines, an alternative will be given to you. This may require you to stay at the hospital overnight.
If the infection damages surrounding soft tissue, it can be scrapped of surgically. However, this is done only when the infection is too severe and uncontrollable.
When it comes to post-transplant infections, severe infections may even kill the organ or damage other organs. So, never ignore any possible signs of infection.
How Can You Prevent Post-Transplant Infections?
The post-operation care must be healthy and hygienic. You need to take precautions to prevent any infections. Abide by the following instructions:
- Always clean y our hands before handling the wound.
- Change the dressing regularly.
- Keep the wound dry and clean.
- Apply antibiotic ointment as advised.
- Take prescribed medicines in the right doses.
- Adopt a healthy diet.
If you experience any abnormality in the site of the surgery or feel ‘sick’ generally, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Treatment of infection is easier if the treatment starts in an early stage of infection.
In case, you feel any discomfort or observe any abnormality, seek medical attention actively.
Post-Transplant Joint Infections Treatment
Infections required immediate treatment and each treatment needs to be customized as per the nature of infection in each patient. At Infectious Diseases Center, our doctors are experts in handling all sorts of infections. We keep ourselves updated on the latest treatment plans so that you can recover free from infections.