Epidemiology and Management of Infections in Liver Transplant Recipients

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-1-2024

Publication Title

Surgical infections

Abstract

Background: Improvements in liver transplant (LT) outcomes are attributed to advances in surgical techniques, use of potent immunosuppressants, and rigorous pre-LT testing. Despite these improvements, post-LT infections remain the most common complication in this population. Bacteria constitute the most common infectious agents, while fungal and viral infections are also frequently encountered. Multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections develop because of polymicrobial overuse and prolonged hospital stays. Immediate post-LT infections are commonly caused by viruses.

Conclusions: Appropriate vaccination, screening of both donor and recipients before LT and antiviral prophylaxis in high-risk individuals are recommended. Antimicrobial drug resistance is common in high-risk LT and associated with poor outcomes; epidemiology and management of these cases is discussed. Additionally, we also discuss the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and monkeypox in the LT population.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Bacterial Infections; COVID-19; Liver Transplantation; Mycoses; Postoperative Complications; SARS-CoV-2; Transplant Recipients; Virus Diseases

PubMed ID

38700753

Volume

25

Issue

4

First Page

272

Last Page

290

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