Infectious Diseases Transplant Clinic

When you undergo a transplant, your immune system is intentionally suppressed, so your body doesn’t reject the new tissue. While this step is vital, it also makes you vulnerable to infections that can become serious if not detected and treated quickly. It becomes more important than ever before to effectively prevent and manage infections.

Penn Medicine’s Infectious Diseases Transplant Clinic provides specialized care to protect your health both before and after transplantation. Our clinic was among the first transplant infectious disease (TID) programs in the region, and we continue to guide people through every stage of transplant care with expertise and compassion.

We work closely with our nationally recognized transplant teams, creating a seamless care plan that integrates infection management with your overall treatment. You’ll receive careful pre-transplant evaluations to identify any hidden infections, as well as personalized strategies afterward to prevent and address potential complications.

Infection risks vary with each type of transplant, and our specialists are deeply experienced in caring for people with complex medical conditions, including those with ventricular assist devices who face unique infection challenges. We tailor therapies such as antimicrobials and vaccinations to individual needs and provide ongoing education to help you and your family reduce infection risks at home.

With Penn Medicine, you’re in the care of a team that understands the complexities of TID and is committed to protecting your health and preserving your transplant.

Infection care is not separate from transplant care, but part of one coordinated plan. We are fully integrated with the Penn Transplant Institute, a national leader in transplantation. With more than six decades of transplant experience, the institute has pioneered many firsts, from the earliest kidney transplant in 1966 to pancreas, heart, lung, hand, and uterus transplants. Transplant outcomes consistently meet or exceed national averages, and our teams are among the most experienced in handling rare and complex procedures.

In keeping with Penn Medicine’s collaborative approach, infectious disease physicians work together with surgeons and medical specialists in cardiology, pulmonology, hepatology, nephrology, oncology, and other areas, so infection considerations are included in every decision about your treatment.

As an academic medical center, Penn Medicine also leads in research. Our transplant infectious diseases experts participate in clinical trials of new antivirals, antibacterials, and monitoring tools, offering promising new therapies not available at most hospitals. Patients may have the opportunity to benefit from innovative treatments while helping advance the future of transplant medicine.