Why can an infection cause a kidney transplant operation to be cancelled?

A kidney transplant operation may be cancelled if the recipient has an active infection because of the significant risk that the infection could damage the donor organ or further impair the patient's overall health.1

This precaution is essential because transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ. These medications work by depressing the immune system, which inherently lowers the patient's resistance to infection. Because the surgery itself and the subsequent use of immunosuppressants create a vulnerable state, ensuring the patient is free of infection prior to the procedure is a critical safety measure.21