Introduction: Our purpose was to screen liver and heart recipients for endemic infectious diseases and to organize vaccination recommendations prior to transplant surgery to minimize infections.
Materials and Methods: The data of this report were collected from medical records for each adult candidates of both liver (LT) and heart transplantation (HT) from September 2014 to June 2017 who were consulted to the Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology. Pretransplant screening includes cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), measles virus, mumps virus, rubella virus, hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test for syphilis screening and toxoplasma antibody screening especially for HT candidates.
Results: As a total 46 candidates for transplantation surgery consulted for pretransplant screening who were distributed as 35 LT and 11 HT, with male predominance (63% and 73%, respectively). The median age of recipients at the time of pretransplant screening was 53  years (18-68 years). Out of 15 from 46 candidates had transplantation: 11 LT and 4 HT.  All candidates had negative results for both VDRL and HIV. All candidates were serologically positive for CMV. One of each candidates for LT and HT were nonimmune to EBV. Toxoplasma antibody positivity were 45% (5/11) among HT candidates. Chronic hepatitis due to HBV and HCV diagnosed only among LT candidates distributed as 11 and 2, respectively. Immunization to HAV were found to be higher among candidates: 97% among LT candidates and 91% among HT candidates. Antibody to VZV tested among 45 candidates. All HT candidates were tested and immune to VZV. VZV immunity tested among 34 (97%) liver candidates and 33 candidates were found to be immune (97%). There is an ongoing measles outbreak in Europe and 39 (29 LT and 10 HT) candidates were screened for antibody to measles virus. One of each candidates were nonimmune to measles (3%  LT and 10% HT, respectively).
Discussion: Although there were national guidelines/consensus statements for recommendations for pretransplant screening for organ transplantation in Europe, Norway, Sweden, United States of America, Australia and New Zealand, in Turkey we do not have a national policy. Each transplantation center does pretransplant screening and recommends vaccinations according to their written protocols.
Conclusion: Pretransplant screening of potential organ recipients is essential to the success of solid organ transplantation. Pretransplant screening also helps to determine immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases and is a chance for updating of immunizations for the rest of safe living after transplantation surgery. National policy for pretransplant screening for endemic infectious diseases is needed urgently.