【 Abstract 】 Objective To investigate the features and risk factors of bacterial infection after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) and summarize the experiences for prevention and treatment of infection. Methods The clinical materials of 79 patients underwent OLT from December 2004 to January 2007 were reviewed. The incidence and sites of postoperative bacterial infections as well as species of bacteria and the situation of drug resistance were retrospectively analyzed. Results Thirty-two (40.5%) out of 79 patients developed bacterial infections. Infection mainly occurred in lung, abdominal cavity and blood, which were mainly caused by Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus, klebsiella pneumoniae, staphylococcus epidermidis and enterococcus bacteria. The main risk factors included delayed restoration of gastrointestinal function (gt;5 d), poorly preoperative liver function (Child C grade), hypoproteinemia and persistent postoperative hyperglycemia (gt;11.0 mmol/L). Perioperative decontamination in digestive tract was a protective factor in the prevention of bacterial infection. Conclusion Bacterial infection is one of the most severe complications after OLT. Therefore, it is very important to remove those risk factors, make early diagnosis and take effective treatment ．