Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Kidney Transplant Recipients—A Narrative Review

Abstract

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most prevalent complications in kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. The most frequent finding in this group of patients is asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). Here, we provide an overview of the available evidence regarding ASB in KTx recipients, including its etiopathology, clinical impact and management. There is a growing body of evidence from clinical trials that screening for and treating ASB is not beneficial in most KTx recipients. However, there are insufficient data to recommend or discourage the use of a “screen-and-treat strategy” for ASB during the first 1–2 months post-transplant or in the case of an indwelling urinary catheter. Despite its frequency, ASB after KTx is still an understudied phenomenon.

Keywords

• asymptomatic bacteriuria
• kidney transplantation