Transplantation has become a standard therapy offering potential cures for a numbers of disorders. Patients undergoing transplantation are exposed to the risk of developing bacterial, viral and fungal infections due to underlying diseases, transplantation protocols, and treatment regimens. Severe infections are a major course of morbidity and mortality. Early diagnosis is essential for the prompt initiation of appropriate therapy and the management of such complications.
Posttransplant microbiological surveillance is used for identifying patients at high risk and when infection is suspected. Microbiological examinations are also performed in some instances to monitor the patient's response to therapy. Molecular detection of microorganisms is a rapid diagnostic technique and becomes a useful tool for early recognition and treatment of viral and fungal infections.

*Division of Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Clinical Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574