The epidemiology of infections associated with orthotopic liver transplantation is summarized herein,
and approaches to prophylaxis are outlined. Infection is a major complication following orthotopic liver
transplantation, and more than half of transplant recipients develop at least one infection. The risk of
infection is highest in the first month after transplantation, and the most common pathogens are bacteria
and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Bacterial infections usually occur in the first month, arise in the abdomen,
and are caused by aerobes. The peak incidence of CMV infection is late in the first month and early in
the second month after transplantationn. CMV syndromes include fever and neutropenia, hepatitis,
pneumonitis, gut ulceration, and disseminated infection. Other significant problems are Candida
intraabdominal infection, Herpes simplex mucocutaneous infection or hepatitis, adenovirus hepatitis,
and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia