Fatal Invasive Mold Infections after Transplantation of Organs Recovered from Drowned Donors, United States, 2011–2021

Abstract

Drowned organ donors can be exposed to environmental molds through the aspiration of water; transplantation of exposed organs can cause invasive mold infections in recipients. We describe 4 rapidly fatal cases of potentially donor-derived invasive mold infections in the United States, highlighting the importance of maintaining clinical suspicion for these infections in transplant recipients.

Keywords

• mold
• donor-derived infection
• solid organ transplantation
• fungi
• Scedosporium
• mucormycosis