Surveillance of Invasive Fungal Infections in Bone Marrow/Stem Cell and Solid Organ Transplantation Recipients: A Prospective, Multi-center Study
PI: Trish M. Perl, MD, MSc
Sponsor: University of Alabama, Birmingham/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

This project is a CDC funded multi-center study which is coordinated by The University of Alabama at Birmingham. The main goal of the study is to perform three years of nationwide surveillance of bone marrow (BMT), solid organ (SOT) and stem cell (SCT) transplant patients for the development of invasive fungal infections via a network of more than 20 research hospitals.

Patients receiving their transplant during the surveillance period become part of the transplant cohort and are assigned a non-identifying patient identification number. The microbiology, pathology, and radiology reports of these patients are reviewed in order to determine if any cohort members develop an invasive fungal infection. At the time an infection is detected, the patient becomes a case and the coordinating center is notified. In addition, subcultures of the fungal isolate are sent to the coordinating center. Patients receiving their transplant prior to the study start date are followed by passive surveillance. If any of these patients develop an invasive fungal infection, they are considered a non-cohort case and are given a unique patient identification number. The coordinating center is then notified of their case status.