Impact of Pre-Transplant Bacterial Infections on Post-Operative Outcomes in Patients after Liver Transplantation

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In contrast to studies evaluating the negative effect of bacterial infections on clinical outcomes after liver transplantation, there is little evidence with regard to pre-transplant bacterial infections. We aimed to investigate the impact of pre-transplant bacterial infections on post-transplant outcomes in patients after liver transplantation.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 33 consecutive patients who underwent primary liver transplantations. Patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of a bacterial infection within the 30 days before transplantation.

RESULTS: Of the 33 patients, 23 patients did not have pre-transplant bacterial infections, while 10 patients did have pre-transplant bacterial infections. Pre-transplant bacterial infections were urinary tract infections (n = 4), spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (n = 3), and one each of pneumonia, bacteremia, and cellulitis. There were no differences in clinical characteristics between the two groups. Post-operative clinical outcomes, including post-operative bacterial infection, intensive-care unit re-admission, 30-day re-hospitalization, and 90-day mortality rate were not significantly different between the two groups. The two-year overall survival rate was 76.7% in patients with pre-transplant infections and 80.0% in those without pre-transplant infections.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with pre-transplant bacterial infections did not have inferior clinical outcomes, compared with those without pre-transplant bacterial infections.