Risks and Epidemiology of Infections After Liver Transplantation

Liver transplant recipients have a high risk of infectious complications, compared with recipients of other solid organs, despite the improvement in surgical techniques, shortening of operative times, and the development of novel anti-infective agents in the last decade. A careful examination of risk factors, diligent surveillance for early signs of infection, and prompt intervention are necessary to minimize serious infectious complications, which often contribute to graft loss and death in this population. Future strategies to develop diagnostic assays that are rapid, cost-effective, standardized, and easily performed will improve our abilities to prevent donor-transmitted infections. Ability to assess the immune competence of the recipients and to optimally prescribe appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis will allow us to prevent infection. Areas such as liver transplant in HIV coinfection and the prevention of recurrence of viral hepatitides after transplantation have made some progress but require further research before the establishment of accepted therapeutic strategies.