Bacterial infection(BI)is a common cause of impairment of liver function in patients with cirrhosis,especially in the liver transplant candidates.These patients share an immunocompromised state and increased susceptibility to develop community and hospital-acquired infections.The changing epidemiology of BI,with an increase of multidrug resistant strains,especially in healthcareassociated settings,represents a critical issue both in the waiting list and in the post-operative management.This review focused on the role played by BI in patients awaiting liver transplantation,evaluating the risk of drop-out from the waiting list,the possibility to undergo liver transplantation after recovery from infection or during a controlled infection.