ATC Abstracts

American Transplant Congress abstracts

  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • 2022 American Transplant Congress
    • 2021 American Transplant Congress
    • 2020 American Transplant Congress
    • 2019 American Transplant Congress
    • 2018 American Transplant Congress
    • 2017 American Transplant Congress
    • 2016 American Transplant Congress
    • 2015 American Transplant Congress
    • 2013 American Transplant Congress
  • Keyword Index
  • Resources
    • 2021 Resources
    • 2016 Resources
      • 2016 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2016 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2015-2016
      • AST Board of Directors 2015-2016
    • 2015 Resources
      • 2015 Welcome Letter
      • ATC 2015 Program Planning Committees
      • ASTS Council 2014-2015
      • AST Board of Directors 2014-2015
      • 2015 Conference Schedule
  • Search

Impact of Enteric Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus Colonization on Waitlist Outcomes among Liver Transplant Candidates

E. Aldag, R. Pedersen, V. Gunabushanam, A. Sahajpal, T. J. Dilworth

Aurora St Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI

Meeting: 2019 American Transplant Congress

Abstract number: C296

Keywords: Infection, Liver transplantation, Waiting lists

Session Information

Session Name: Poster Session C: Liver: MELD, Allocation and Donor Issues (DCD/ECD)

Session Type: Poster Session

Date: Monday, June 3, 2019

Session Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

 Presentation Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: Hall C & D

*Purpose: To determine the impact of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization on 90-day Liver Transplant (LT) waitlist outcomes.

*Methods: Single center, retrospective observational study of LT candidates listed between 1/1/15-6/30/18. Patients were followed for 90 days post-listing until transplant, death, or removal. Patients were stratified as VRE colonized or not at the time of listing based on VRE rectal surveillance culture results. Demographics, comorbidities, and waitlist outcomes were compared between groups. Chi-square test was used for comparing categorical variables. Student’s t-test and Wilcoxon Rank Sum test were used for comparing continuous variables expressed as means and medians, respectively. Competing risks regression assessed 90-day waitlist outcomes.

*Results: 221 candidates were added to the liver waitlist during the study period. 190 (86%) candidates had VRE surveillance cultures prior to listing with 65 (34%) colonized. VRE colonized patients had a higher rate of a previous transplant (12.3% vs 2.4%, p<0.01), but did not differ significantly on other baseline information (Table 1). In competing risks regression, MELD at listing (Hazard Ratio (HR)=1.09 (1.06-1.13), p<0.01), primary diagnosis for cancer (HR=2.92 (1.07-7.99), p=0.04), and male gender (HR=2.14 (1.05-4.38), p=0.04) were independent predictors of transplant. Only Model for End Stage Liver Disease (MELD) at listing was significantly associated with mortality (HR=1.13 (1.09-1.17), p<0.01). After adjusting for MELD at listing, VRE colonization was not significantly associated with mortality (HR=1.08 (0.44-2.69), p=0.86) or transplant (HR=0.92 (0.49-1.74), p=0.81).

*Conclusions: Enteric VRE colonization at the time of liver listing was common but not associated with 90 day competing outcomes of transplant or mortality.

 border=

  • Tweet
  • Email
  • Print

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Aldag E, Pedersen R, Gunabushanam V, Sahajpal A, Dilworth TJ. Impact of Enteric Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus Colonization on Waitlist Outcomes among Liver Transplant Candidates [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2019; 19 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/impact-of-enteric-vancomycin-resistant-enterococcus-colonization-on-waitlist-outcomes-among-liver-transplant-candidates/. Accessed May 9, 2025.

« Back to 2019 American Transplant Congress

Visit Our Partner Sites

American Transplant Congress (ATC)

Visit the official site for the American Transplant Congress »

American Journal of Transplantation

The official publication for the American Society of Transplantation (AST) and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) »

American Society of Transplantation (AST)

An organization of more than 3000 professionals dedicated to advancing the field of transplantation. »

American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS)

The society represents approximately 1,800 professionals dedicated to excellence in transplantation surgery. »

Copyright © 2013-2025 by American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Cookie Preferences