Unexpected Hepatitis B Virus Infection After Liver Transplantation — United States, 2014–2019

Abstract

What is already known about this topic? Unexpected donor-derived hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection after organ transplantation is rare and is associated most commonly with donor injection drug use. What is added by this report? During 2019, the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network and CDC received an increased number of reports of HBV infection among liver recipients from HBV-negative donors; 12 of 14 implicated donors had evidence of recent injection drug use, and 13 donors were hepatitis C virus (HCV)-seropositive. What are the implications for public health practice? Providers caring for recipients of organs from donors who are HCV-seropositive or who recently injected drugs should maintain awareness of infectious complications of drug use and monitor recipients accordingly.