Which of the following characteristics or conditions will exclude a patient as a suitable cadaveric organ donor?

a. Active systemic bacterial infection

The characteristics of a suitable cadaveric organ donor can be divided into those that are general in nature and those that are organ-specific. Broadly stated, the general attributes of an acceptable organ donor include the establishment of a diagnosis of brain death, previously good general health, and relative hemodynamic stability from the time of the advanced precipitating brain death until organ procurement is complete. As experience has been gained with donors considerably less than ideal, it has become apparent that arbitrarily defined chronological age limits for organ donors are unnecessary.

Active systemic infection is an absolute contraindication to organ donation. Documented positive blood cultures for known systemic infection that has not been completely eradicated rule out the potential organ donor because of risk of transmission of infection to an immunosuppressed recipient. Furthermore, all potential organ donors, regardless of whether they are considered high risk, should be tested for infection with human immunodeficiency virus as well as hepatitis B and C. Cancer, whether treated or not, has long been considered to contravene organ donation. The only exception to this rule has been the donor with a primary malignancy of the central nervous system

The condition of particular organs in great measure dictate their individual suitability for transplantation. Preexisting hepatic disease can usually be identified before organ procurement. A history of hepatitis or cirrhosis of any kind preclude donation. Although calculous biliary tract disease would appear at first blush to be a contraindication of hepatic procurement, prior cholecystectomy for uncomplicated cholelithiasis is not an absolute contraindication to liver donation.