A bibliometric analysis of infectious diseases in patients with liver transplantation in the last decade

Abstract

Background: A bibliometric analysis was performed to reveal the current status of investigations in infectious diseases in patients with liver transplantation (LT) and to prioritize future research needs. Methods:The present study comprehensively retrieved publications relevant to infectious diseases in LT recipients published between 2010 and 2020. The search was conducted on the Web of Science (WoS) database. A bibliometric analysis was conducted through machine learning and visualization tools, including VOSviewer, Bibliographic Item Co-Occurrence Matrix Builder, and Graphical Clustering Toolkit. Research hotspots and trends in the field were assessed, while the contributions and collaborations of countries, institutions, and authors were documented.Results: A total of 691 publications were analyzed. Research output sharply increased in 2015, with a fast drop afterward. "Liver transplantation" was the most frequent keyword, with strong links to "hepatitis C virus" and "infection". Study areas included risk factors of infectious diseases in LT recipients, pathogens causing post-transplantation infections, antibacterial therapy and prophylaxis for peritransplant infection complications, living donor LT, and pediatric LT. The efficacy and safety of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among liver transplant recipients has attracted recent research interest.Didier Samuel was the most productive author, while Xavier Forns was the top-cited author. Shanghai Jiao Tong University was the most productive contributor, and Gilead Sciences was the most cited organization.Moreover, the USA was the greatest contributor. Gastroenterology was the most cited journal, while Liver Transplantation was the most prolific journal.Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis will better understand the research status of infectious complications in LT recipients and forecast future research trends. Priority should be given to identifying risk factors for peritransplantation infections and effective treatments against infectious complications in the coming years.

Bacterial and Viral Infections in Liver Transplantation: New Insights from Clinical and Surgical Perspectives

“…Transplant recipients, however, remain at risk of contracting community-acquired infections, and recurrent cholangitis may become a problem in those with chronic allograft malfunction or recurrent cholestatic liver disease [ 4 , 34 ].…”

“…Gram-positive infections were the leading cause of liver transplantation infectious complications; as many as 80% of patients are infected with the methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) bacteria, while 55% are infected with the vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Moreover, linezolid-resistant VRE outbreaks have been observed [ 4 , 31 , 34 ]. However, the increase in Gram-negative rods, mainly carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriales , extended-spectrum beta−lactamase (ESBL), MDR P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter has become a crucial concern in clinical practice [ 4 , 31 , 34 ].…”

“…Moreover, linezolid-resistant VRE outbreaks have been observed [ 4 , 31 , 34 ]. However, the increase in Gram-negative rods, mainly carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriales , extended-spectrum beta−lactamase (ESBL), MDR P. aeruginosa and Acinetobacter has become a crucial concern in clinical practice [ 4 , 31 , 34 ].…”

“…After liver transplantation, bacterial pathogens are the most common cause of infectious complications. Most of these infections occur in the first month following liver transplantation ( Figure 1 ); they are more likely to affect the surgical site, abdomen, bloodstream, and urinary or respiratory tracts [ 4 , 34 , 35 ].…”

“…General risk factors for infectious complications after transplantation include biliary tract manipulation, the necessity for surgical and other invasive procedures, prolonged hospitalization, prior colonisation, mechanical ventilation, indwelling vascular and urinary catheterisation, and the microbiological status of the patient [ 4 , 34 , 35 ].…”