Infectious disease and transplantation: Messages for the generalist

Today, more patients than ever are receiving organ or bone marrow transplants and are surviving longer afterward. Because these patients often live far from the transplant center, their local primary care physicians may be called on to evaluate problems as they arise, although all significant issues should be handled in conjunction with the transplant team. This paper reviews the primary care physician's role in the pretransplantation evaluation, and in coordination of long-term care, as well as illustrative cases.