Abstract: Objective To investigate the risk factors for biliary tract infection related to percutaneous transhepatic biliary stenting (PTBS) in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice and determine the feasible therapeutic strategy. Methods One hundred and twenty-eight consecutive patients with malignant obstructive jaundice received initial PTBS for bile drainage. A prospective study was conducted on the occurrence of biliary tract infection within 30 days after PTBS. Potential preoperative risk factors, like age, sex, stricture type of biliary tract, obstructive location, duration of jaundice, stent across Oddi, decreased ratio of serum bilirubin, were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Successful drainage was achieved in 91 patients (71.1%). Early biliary tract infections were observed in 39 cases (30.4%). By univariate analysis, age, stricture type of biliary tract, obstructive location, duration of jaundice, stent across Oddi and decreased ratio of serum bilirubin were significantly different between biliary tract infection group and non-infection group. Long duration of jaundice, stent across the duodenal papilla and a 30% decrease in serum bilirubin level were independent predictors of early biliary tract infections. Patient with stent across papilla had a successful drainage rate of 82.5% (47/57) and a lower rate of biliary tract infection compared with patients who had a stent above papilla (19.2% vs 38.0% respectively, P = 0.014). Conclusions PTBS is a safe and effective therapeutic intervention for malignant biliary jaundice. Stent across the duodenal papilla makes a fast decline of serum bilirubin level, which is associated with a lower rate of early biliary tract infection.