Infection patterns during the first year after adult liver transplantation: a retrospective analysis

Abstract

Background: Infection is one of the most significant possible complications after liver transplantation (LT). This study identified patterns of infection and compared the characteristics of patients with and without infections during the first year after LT.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study reviewed adult patients' electronic medical records to identify infections occurring up to 1 year after LT. The criteria for identifying infections in the first year after LT were either a positive laboratory test or recorded clinical signs or symptoms meeting the accepted criteria for each infection.

Results: The overall incidence of infection during the posttransplant year was 17.3%. The highest infection rate (8.2%) was identified in the first month after LT, with rates of 1.9% and 7.2% at 1-3 months and 3 months to 1 year after LT, respectively. Respiratory tract infections were the most common type of infection, and bacteria were the most common causal agents in the first month post-LT.

Conclusions: It is difficult to compare the posttransplant incidence of infection in the present study with previous studies due to differences in study designs and definitions of infection. This study revealed that respiratory tract infections were the most common type of overall posttransplant infection, especially during the period from 3 months to 1 year after LT.