After transplantation operation, weakening immune system drugs should be taken to help your body to accept the transplanted organ, and the organ rejection does not occur. So you may, be at a high level of risk for viral, fungal and bacterial infection. After surgery, it is the time when you are given high dosage of immunosuppressant. The problem of getting an infection is more serious at this time. Therefore, high level of protection is necessary during this period. If the patient’s staying time at ICU ward is prolonged and the family members wanted to visit their patient, the number of individuals should be very limited including spouse, parents, or children over 16 years old. All visitors should wash their hands thoroughly before entering the room and be free of any infection or cold.

After a week or ten days, the patient may be transferred to another ward of the hospital. Wearing mask and gloves is compulsory upon leaving the room to prevent contamination and infection. Please avoid contacting patients who may have any infections.

After transferring from ICU to ward:

The visitors should wash their hands thoroughly and wear mask and gloves before visiting the patient. The visitors are not allowed to visit if having any colds or infections. Make sure that the visitors do not make any contact with the transplanted patient including shaking hand.

Another major source of infection after transplantation is mouth due to the oral bacterial and fungal infection. Therefore, observing oral and dental hygiene is so important and the regular examination of the dental health care is advisable after transplantation. Be careful about informing your dentist about your transplantation surgery.

Lung infection:

The lung is the most common site for infection after transplantation. At the hospital, there are also examinations to prevent and diagnose lung infection, but in recovery time, be sure to follow the physiotherapist’s advice and do the exercises needed to reduce the incidence of lung infection. Symptoms of lung infection that you should report immediately to your doctor are: sever cough with sputum, dyspnea (shortness of breath) and fever.

An important symptom of infection is a fever of 37.7 degree or higher that lasts more than 4 hours or a sudden fever of 38 degree or higher. In case of having these symptoms contact your physician immediately.

If you have never been infected with mumps, measles or chickenpox and have not had a vaccine, you should know that if you are exposed to these diseases you may be infected easily; so provide your physician with this information before transplantation surgery to plan your vaccination.

Because immunosuppressive drugs weaken the immune system, as a result, viruses, bacteria and fungus may cause infection. Also, natural bacteria, viruses and fungus that float in the air or are normally present on your skin can cause infection. Some of the common infections including CMV virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus can cause herpes or shingles in some cases.

Nutrition:

Take the nutritionist’s advice on not consuming raw materials to prevent gastrointestinal infection.