Evaluation of Perioperative Risk Factors for Infection by Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in Patients Undergoing Liver Transplantation

Background: Liver transplantation (LT) is a crucial intervention in patients with severe liver disease. Infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) complicate the prognosis of the liver transplant patient. Main objective was analyze perioperative risk factors for MDRB infections six months after transplantation. Methods: A retrospective systematic review of 133 medical records of liver transplants performed between October 2018 and May 2022 is performed. The presence of MDRB colonization and infection, as well as various perioperative variables, are recorded. These data are analyzed to determine possible risk factors associated with MDRB infection and colonization. Results: Univariate analysis identified several perioperative associated with MDRB infections within six months after LT. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that pre-transplant MDRB colonization (OR 5.72, 95% CI 1.7–18.7, p = 0.005) and the need for dialysis during the postoperative ICU stay (OR 6.42, 95% CI 1.7–23.4, p = 0.009) were independent risk factors for developing MDRB infections within six months following LT. MDRB infection (9.4%) is not associated with an increase in mortality (p=0.126). Conclusion: The results of the present study allow us to expand our knowledge of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of MDRB infection in the postoperative period of liver transplantation. This knowledge is important in order to establish prevention and treatment strategies for these infections that could improve the results in these patients.