Antimicrobial prophylaxis with ceftriaxone for prevention of early postoperative infections after 49 liver transplantations

Infection remains a major problem for individuals who undergo solid organ transplantation and liver transplant recipients are particularly susceptible to infectious complications with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The risk of these infections is determined by previous or future environmental exposures as well as the patient's immune status. We report here the results of an open prospective study involving 49 consecutive liver transplantations, undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of ceftriaxone in the prevention of early postoperative infectious complications. Antimicrobial prophylaxis was done using a single dose of ceftriaxone (2 g i.v.) given at the induction of anesthesia and then 2 further once-daily doses were administered 2 days postoperatively. Early post-operative bacterial infection rate was 43.5% (20/46); this result is comparable or even lower than those documented in other studies. This study, even though open and non-comparative, showed that a once-daily regimen containing ceftriaxone provides adequate antimicrobial prophylaxis and significant cost-savings in comparison with multiple-dose prophylactic regimens in patients undergoing liver transplantation.