The evaluation of critically ill transplant patients with infectious diarrhea.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The review summarizes the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of the most important etiologic agents of infectious diarrhea in critically ill transplant recipients.

RECENT FINDINGS: Diarrhea, frequently caused by infectious pathogens, can cause significant morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. Diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration, acute renal failure, medication toxicity, rejection, graft-versus-host disease and impairs patients' quality of life. Opportunistic infectious pathogens can pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in immunocompromised hosts.

SUMMARY: In transplant recipients, it is vital to differentiate infectious from noninfectious diarrhea to adequately manage their therapeutic approach. Supportive measures and reduction in immunosuppression are essential for the treatment management.