Association of fungal infection and increased mortality in liver transplant recipients

Background: Invasive fungal infection is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx). Understanding the risk factors associated with fungal infection may facilitate identification of high-risk patients and guide appropriate initiation of antifungal therapy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of fungal infections, identify the most common fungal pathogens, and determine the risk factors associated with fungal infections and mortality in OLTx recipients. Methods: Medical records from 96 consecutive OLTx in 90 American veterans (88 males, 2 females; mean age 48 years, range 32 to 67) performed from January 1994 to December 1997 were retrospectively reviewed for fungal infection in the first 120 days after transplantation. Infection was defined by positive cultures from either blood, urine (