Infections and liver transplantation

Abstract

Hepatic decompensation is often induced by bacterial infections and illustrates disease severity. Hereby, the only curative therapeutic option remains liver transplantation. The most common entities of infections in cirrhosis are spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, pneumonia, and urinary tract- and soft tissue infections. Because of the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens worldwide and their association with increased morbidity and mortality in the setting of decompensated cirrhosis, decisions regarding the diagnostic and therapeutic approach must take these aspects into consideration. Although the overall survival of patients with decompensated cirrhosis after transplantation is promising, the mismatch between available donor organs and the number of patients waiting for transplantation is still worrisome. Even if transplantation is performed in order of priority and some patients receive living donation, not everybody can receive liver transplantation in time. This underlines the eminent value of organ donation, as well as the need for high awareness levels in transplantation medicine.