OBJECTIVE To summarize the pathogenic characteristics of bacterial infection and analyze the risk factors after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in patients over 60 years of age. METHODS A retrospective study of 69 patients that were over 60 years of age and underwent OLT was carried out. Descriptive statistics and risk factor analysis were performed with SPSS 11.0. RESULTS Thirty-eight patients developed bacterial infection (55.1%) after OLT, and thirty recipients suffered from mixed bacterial infection (79.0%). Multi-location infection was most commonly seen (68.4%). Nine patients died of bacterial infection. The primary pathogenic germs included enterococcus, methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococcus, c maltophilia. The risk factors related to bacterial infection included preoperative malnutrition, long anhepatic phase, use of ventilator and duration of ICU stay. CONCLUSIONS The old patients that have undergone OLT are susceptible to bacterial infection. Bacterial infections are associated with high rate of mortality and multidrug resistance. Eliminating various risk factors can reduce the incidence of bacterial infection.