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Liver transplant quality indicator

The percentage use of the anti-viral medication Valganciclovir in CMV (Cytomegalovirus) mismatched liver transplant patients

What does CMV mismatch mean?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common infection and many patients undergoing liver transplant will have had previous exposure to the virus. Similarly, many of the livers donated for transplant will have come from individuals who have had this infection in the past.

However, if a patient who has not had CMV infection receives a liver transplant from somebody who has (known as a CMV mismatch) they can become quite unwell and require a course of treatment to prevent this.

How is the Trust doing?

Rolling year to date (January 2011 – December 2011)	100%
Rolling 2 years (January 2010 – December 2011)	100%

Higher percentage indicates better performance.

The Trust is performing consistently well against this indicator. Performance will continue to be monitored to ensure it remains high.

Why is this indicator important?

Valganciclovir is an antiviral medication used routinely in Cytomegalovirus (CMV) mismatched patients to prevent them developing CMV infection and disease.

If patients who have not had CMV go on to develop it after their liver transplant, this can make them very unwell and lead to a hospital admission for administration of intravenous (IV) antibiotics and possibly death.

The highest risk of developing CMV is in the first three months after transplant.

How do we measure this indicator?

The indicator is measured by the percentage of CMV mismatched liver transplant patients who were given Valganciclovir after liver transplantation.

Where does the data come from?

The data for the indicator is compiled from the liver database and the Trust’s Prescribing and Information Communication System (PICS).