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.