Enterococcal Infections the First Year after Liver Transplantation—A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the incidence of enterococcal infections and determine risk factors associated with enterococcal bloodstream infection (BSI) within the first year post-liver transplantation (LTx). We included 321 adult liver transplant recipients transplanted from 2011 to 2019 in a prospective cohort study. Cumulative incidence of enterococcal infections and risk factors associated with BSI were investigated in a competing risk model and time-updated Cox models, respectively. A total of 223 enterococcal infections were identified in 89 recipients. The cumulative incidences of first enterococcal infection and first enterococcal BSI were 28% (95% CI (23–33)) and 11% (CI (7–14)), respectively. Risk factors associated with enterococcal BSI were previous infections in the biliary tract (HR, 33; CI (15–74); p p p = 0.02), recipient age (HR per 10 years increase, 1.2; CI (1.03–1.6); p = 0.03), and cold ischemia time (HR per one hour increase, 1.2; CI (1.1–1.3); p < 0.01). Enterococcal infections are highly prevalent the first year post-LTx, and recipients with enterococcal infections in the biliary tract, peritoneum, or surgical site are at increased risk of BSI. These findings may have implications for the choice of empiric antibiotics early post-LTx.

Keywords

• liver transplantation
• enterococcal infections
• bloodstream infections
• biliary tract infection
• bacteremia
• cholangitis