Viral liver failure is a group of clinical syndromes caused by various hepatotropic viruses (such as hepatitis A, B, C, D and E virus), characterized by massive hepatocyte necrosis as the main pathological basis, and manifested by jaundice, coagulation dysfunction, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy and ascites, etc. The 28-day mortality rate is as high as 40%. Liver failure caused by hepatitis B virus is mainly acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Patients with viral liver failure have severely impaired immune function and are extremely prone to secondary infections, which may lead to deterioration of the patient’s condition, multiple organ failure, even death. Timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment of secondary infections are crucial to improving the prognosis of patients. This consensus elaborates on the diagnosis and treatment measures related to secondary infections for viral liver failure from four aspects: the definition and classification of viral liver failure, diagnosis and treatment of secondary infections in viral liver failure, and providing a reliable theoretical basis for their diagnosis and treatment.