Introduction: In spite of recent advances in therapeutic approaches, viral infection management continues to be a big challenge. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is considered an important cause of high morbidity and mortality in kidney transplantations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the frequency and risk factors of CMV infection in kidney recipients during the first year following kidney transplantation in Mashhad, North Eastern Iran.
 
Materials & Methods: We retrospectively evaluated medical records of 247 patients undergoing kidney transplantation in Montaserie Organ Transplantation Hospital of Mashhad city during 2012 - 2015 .The patients were followed for 1-year. The data were reported by descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and viral infection associated risk factors were analyzed by Logistic regression.
 
Findings: During the first year following transplantation, 64 (21.9%) episodes of CMV infections were found. 28 episodes (51.8%) occurred in the first 3 months following the transplantation, 17 (31.5%) during the second 3 months, and 9 (16.7%) after the sixth month. Among the evaluated risk factors for CMV infection (gender, age, medical comorbidities and causes of renal failure), diabetes was the only statistically significant factor identified as a cause for comorbidity and renal failure, (P value<0.05).
 
Discussion & Conclusion: According to our results and conclusions, allograft kidney recipients were more sensitive to develop active CMV. Appropriate prophylaxis intake, vaccination for CMV and post-transplant viral monitoring are suggested to decrease the possibility of infections in kidney recipients.c