RT Book, Section A1 Weinstein, Jay A1 Reimundes, Ezequiel Rodríguez A1 Enríquez, Natalia Beatriz A2 Molmenti, Ernesto Pompeo A2 Santibañes, Martin de A2 Santibañes, Eduardo de SR Print(0) ID 1180108572 T1 Vaccinations T2 Liver Transplantation: Operative Techniques and Medical Management YR 2021 FD 2021 PB McGraw Hill PP New York, NY SN 9781260462517 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1180108572 RD 2024/11/08 AB Infectious diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease, both before and after liver transplantation. Impaired humoral and cellular immunity in these patients is attributable to liver disease itself but also to immunosuppressive agents.1–10 Active immunization is an effective way to protect transplant recipients against certain infectious agents. Patients should be immunized against common infections such as pneumococci and influenza as soon as chronic liver disease is diagnosed.11–14 Vaccination against hepatitis A and B virus is also recommended for these patients who are vulnerable to viral coinfection. Furthermore, infections can contribute to rejection of the transplanted organ and to the subsequent development of certain types of cancers. Following transplantation, the risk for infectious diseases increases and the serologic response to vaccination decreases due to immunosuppressive agents. For this reason, efforts should be made to vaccinate patients early in the course of liver disease.