Patients with organ transplants are most frequently infected with:

 # Patients with organ transplants are most frequently infected with:

A. Hepatitis A

B. Hepatitis B

C. CMV

D. EBV

The correct answer is:

C. CMV (Cytomegalovirus)

Explanation:

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common opportunistic infection in patients with organ transplants. This is because immunosuppressive therapy, which is necessary to prevent organ rejection, compromises the immune system, making the patient more vulnerable to infections.

CMV in transplant patients:

It can cause severe complications, including fever, gastrointestinal disease, pneumonitis, hepatitis, and graft rejection.

Reactivation of latent CMV or primary infection (from donor tissue or environmental exposure) is common.

Other options:

Hepatitis A: Rarely an issue in transplant patients since it does not become chronic and typically resolves without major complications.

Hepatitis B: Can cause complications in transplant patients, but it is less frequent than CMV. Pre-transplant screening and antiviral prophylaxis help manage the risk.

EBV (Epstein-Barr Virus): Can cause post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), but it is less common than CMV.

In summary, CMV is the most frequent and clinically significant infection in transplant patients.