[Descriptive study of infectious complications in 109 consecutive liver transplant recipients].

INTRODUCTION: Infectious disease is a common, serious complication in liver transplant recipients. The etiology of these infections undergoes changes related with technical advances, prophylaxis, and local epidemiology.

METHODS: Prospective study in patients who underwent liver transplantation from July 2003 to December 2005 at the Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío. An observational description of infections occurring during the first 2 years following transplantation was carried out.

RESULTS: The incidence of infection was 1.32 episodes per patient over follow-up (443 +/- 248 days). The most frequent infections were surgical site (16%), cytomegalovirus (CMV) (14%), and urinary tract (11%). Etiologies included bacterial (64%), viral (31%), and fungal (5%) causes. The most common pathogens were CMV (21%), Escherichia coli (20%), among which, 40% were extended-spectrum beta-lactamase ESBL-producers, and Enterococcus spp. (11%). More than half the infectious episodes (58%) occurred in the first 4 months after transplantation. The 30-day mortality rate was 18%. In the group with infection, patient and graft survivals were 75% and 73% at the end of follow-up, and in the group without infection, survival was 80% in both cases (P=NS).

CONCLUSIONS: The most common infectious syndromes following liver transplantation were surgical site infection, CMV infection, and urinary tract infection. Bacteria were the most commonly isolated microorganisms, and there was a high rate of ESBL-producing E. coli.