Outcome of a First Episode of Bacterial Infection in Candidates for Liver Transplantation

Bacterial infection (BI) is a major cause of worsening of liver function and death in patients with cirrhosis awaiting liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed at evaluating the outcome of LT candidates after a first episode of BI between 01.2006 and 12.2014 at Padua University Hospital. Amongst 876 cirrhotic LT candidates, one-hundred fourteen (13%, M/F 79/35, median [IQR] age 58[12], MELD score 19[8]) experienced an episode of BI. When compared with matched LT candidates who experienced no BI, they had a higher probability of death (p=0.004), and a lower probability of undergoing LT (p=0.01). Considering only patients who recovered from BI within 30 days, their probability of death and LT was similar to that of matched controls (p=0.34 and p=0.43, respectively). The 90-day post-LT mortality was equal between groups (p=0.90). BI was a strong predictor of early death on the waiting list for LT. Conversely, patients who fully recovered from a BI episode within 30 days did not have a higher mortality risk than matched controls without infection. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.