INFECTIONS IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT FOLLOWING LIVER TRANSPLANTATION: PROFILE OF A SINGLE CENTER

Abstract

Introduction. Despite the advances in antibiotherapy and critical care management, infectious complications remain among the leading complications after liver transplantation related with mortality and morbidity. This study analysis the incidence and pattern of infections and possible prognostic factors of infectious compli- cations retrospectively in a single center. Patients and Methods. Results of 30 consecutive patients with a primary liver transplantation history in a single center between August 2011 and August 2012 and a positive culture result in the first month in the ICU were analysed retrospectively. Results. During the first 1 month stay in the ICU postoperatively 30 (13,63%) patients had at least 1 infection. Total number of infections were 68. Mortality rate of the infected patients was 53,3% (n = 16). Among these infections, 25 (36,76%) of them were in deep surgical sites. Eighteen of the 30 patients (60%) were infected with a single microorganism. Eleven patients (36,66%) had a single infection episode. Microorganism were gram negative in 52 (76,47%) of the infections, gram positive in 14 (20,58%) of the infections, rest of the 2 (2,94%) infections were due to Candidiasis. Among the possible risk factors contributing to mortality, there was a statistically significant dif- ference (p < 0,001) between the platelet counts of the mortality and surviving groups of the patients. Conclu- sion. Infections are among the preventable risk factors for mortality and morbidity after liver transplantation. Our data reveals a significant relation between trombocytopenia and mortality among the infected patients. Further studies focusing on this relation would expose the mechanisms and any possible contribution in cli- nical management of the patients.

Keywords

• liver transplantation
• infection
• immunosuppression
• intensive care.