The Pursuer Pursued

Kasturi et al investigate a case of a 49-year-old white male, who had undergone a cadaveric renal transplantation 4 months earlier and presented to the emergency department with a 3-day history of subjective fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. An opportunistic infection was the main consideration, since the patient was immunosuppressed. Empiric drug therapy was initiated with valgancyclovir for cytomegalovirus infection, intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia, and intravenous piperacillin/tazobactam plus vancomycin for broad-spectrum coverage pending pan-culture results. The patient's condition slowly improved with mechanical ventilation and supportive therapy. He was successfully weaned off ventilatory support and was extubated on day 11 of admission.