Effect of donor-derived infection on prognosis of liver transplant recipients

  Objective  To evaluate the effect of donor-derived infection on the clinical prognosis of the recipients undergoing liver transplantation.

  Methods  Clinical data of 75 donors and recipients undergoing liver transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. According to the culture results of donor organ lavage fluid, all recipients were divided into the positive group (n=26) and negative group (n=49). Clinical parameters of the recipients during perioperative period were observed in the positive and negative groups. The sputum and peritoneal drainage fluid of the recipients undergoing liver transplantation were cultured. The incidence of postoperative infection of the recipients was observed. The 1.5-year survival curve of the recipients was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.

  Results  In the positive group, the incidence of portal vein stenosis and thrombosis was significantly higher than that in the negative group (P < 0.05). Among 75 recipients undergoing liver transplantation, 33 cases (44%) developed postoperative infection mainly in the lung and abdominal cavity. The infection rate significantly differed between the positive group (77%) and negative group (27%, P < 0.05). In the positive group, sputum culture was positive in 10 recipients and peritoneal drainage culture was positive in 11 recipients. The sputum culture outcomes of 4 recipients were consistent with those of the organ lavage fluid culture of their donors. The peritoneal drainage culture results of 6 recipients were consistent with those of the organ lavage fluid culture of their donors. After anti-infection treatment, 2 recipients in the positive group died at postoperative 5 and 12 d, and the culture results of the remaining recipients were negative. In the negative group, 7 recipients were positive for sputum culture and 6 recipients were positive for peritoneal drainage culture. The culture results of all recipients were negative following anti-infection therapy. Two recipients died from graft failure at postoperative 1 month and 1 year. The 1.5-year survival rate did not significantly differ between the positive and negative groups (P > 0.05).

  Conclusions  The effect of donor-derived infection on the early prognosis of liver transplant recipients cannot be neglected, whereas it exerts mild impact on the intermediate- and long-term clinical prognosis of the recipients.