Pre‐transplant multidrug‐resistant infections in liver transplant recipients‐epidemiology and impact on transplantation outcome

Abstract Background Cirrhotic patients are highly exposed to healthcare services and antibiotics. Although pre‐liver transplantation (LT) infections are directly related to the worsening of liver function, the impact of these infections on LT outcomes is still unclear. This study aimed to identify the effect of multidrug‐resistant microorganism (MDRO) infections before LT on survival after LT. Methods Retrospective study that included patients who underwent LT between 2010 and 2019. Variables analyzed were related to patients’ comorbidities, underlying diseases, time on the waiting list, antibiotic use, LT surgery, and occurrences post‐LT. Multivariate analyses were performed using logistic regression, and Cox regression for survival analysis. Results A total of 865 patients were included; 351 infections were identified in 259 (30%) patients, of whom 75 (29%) had ≥1 pre‐LT MDRO infection. The most common infection was spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (34%). The agent was identified in 249(71%), 53(15%) were polymicrobial. The most common microorganism was Klebsiella pneumoniae (18%); the most common MDRO was ESBL‐producing Enterobacterales (16%), and carbapenem‐resistant (CR) Enterobacterales (10%). Factors associated with MDRO infections before LT were previous use of therapeutic cephalosporin ( p = .001) and fluoroquinolone ( p = .001), SBP prophylaxis ( p = .03), ACLF before LT ( p = .03), and days of hospital stay pre‐LT ( p < .001); HCC diagnosis was protective ( p = .01). Factors associated with 90‐day mortality after LT were higher MELD on inclusion to the waiting list ( p = .02), pre‐LT MDRO infection ( p = .04), dialysis after LT ( p < .001), prolonged duration of LT surgery ( p < .001), post‐LT CR‐Gram‐negative bacteria infection ( p < .001), and early retransplantation ( p = .004). Conclusion MDRO infections before LT have an important impact on survival after LT.