Infections after orthotopic liver transplantation in the intensive care unit

The purpose of the study was to assess the characteristics and risk factors of infections in the early period after orthopic liver transplantation (OLT) among adult patients.

We studied 75 patients who underwent OLT over 3 years from 2008 to 2010. We recorded all infections that developed during hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU) their outcomes, and the possible risk factors.

During the study period in 80 OLT we recorded 19 bloodstream infections (47.5%), 7 ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP; 17.5%), and 14 intra-abdominal infections (35%). Among the 40 isolated microbes, 72.5% were Gram negative, 25% were Gram positive, and 2.5% were fungi. The median time to developing the infection was 4.95 days (range 2-10). Patients with infections showed longer durations of mechanical ventilation, longer lengths of ICU stay, and lower 1-year survivals.