title: Infections in liver transplantation: risk factors and strategies for prevention.
abstract: Infection affects up to 70% of liver transplant recipients and is the second most common complication after rejection and graft dysfunction. Identified risk factors for infection include: previous transplantation; type of biliary anastomosis; transfusion requirements at surgery; surgical complications; duration of operation; duration of postoperative ventilation; serological status of donor and recipient; steroid use and serotherapy for rejection; and pre- and post-transplant antibiotic usage. The majority of symptomatic infections are bacterial and relate to surgery (intra-abdominal, biliary and wound infections), ventilation and intravenous cannulae. Cytomegalovirus infections occur in 45-100% of recipients but are asymptomatic in the majority. Fungal infections are mostly due to Candida albicans but infections due to Aspergillus spp. occur in approximately 6% and carry a high mortality. There are very few prospective comparative trials of antimicrobial prophylaxis in this patient population. The management of these patients needs to be based on such studies.
authors.affiliation: Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kibbler
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D009181:Mycoses / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents