Multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients: an epidemiological study

ABSTRACT

Background: The purpose of this study is to describe the epidemiological features of bacterial infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in cirrhotic patients and their impact on mortality.

Methods: A retrospective study of cirrhotic patients with culture-confirmed bacterial infections was performed between 2011 and 2017.

Results: A total of 635 episodes in 563 patients with cirrhosis were included. Bacterial infections caused by MDR isolates accounted for 44.1% (280/635) of the episodes, nearly half of which were hospital acquired (48.4%). The most common MDR isolation site was the respiratory tract (36.4%, 102 episodes), followed by the abdominal cavity (35.4%, 99 episodes). Of the MDR isolates, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) (91 episodes) were the most common. Patients infected with MDR bacteria had significantly higher mortality than those not infected (25.1% vs 17.4%, p = 0.025). However, this increased mortality could be largely attributed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). After adjustment for age, sex, and the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, only MRSA infection was an independent risk factor for 28-day mortality in the multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model analysis (HR, 2.964, 95% CI (1.175–7.478), p = 0.021).

Conclusions: MDR bacterial infections, especially CRE, have become frequent in patients with cirrhosis in recent years, with MRSA infections significantly increasing short-term mortality.     

Risk factors for infections in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma

Background: Patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) frequently have complications with bacterial infections, and these infections increase the mortality rate. However, a detailed analysis of infections associated with LC patients has not yet been performed. Methods: We analyzed 325 patients with LC with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who were hospitalized between 1997 and 1999. Results: Infections developed in 70 (21.5%) patients and 48 (68.6%) of these developed infections during hospitalization. The mortality rate of 28.6% (20/70) in patients with infectious complications was higher than that of 12.5% (32/255) in patients without infectious complications. Forty (57.1%) of the 70 patients had infections of unknown causes; 11 (15.7%) had sepsis; 6 (8.6%) had intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) infection; 3 (4.3%) each had spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), liver abscess, and cholecystitis; and 4 (5.7%) had other infections. Bacterial cultures of blood were prepared from 73 of the 325 patients (22.5%), and were positive in 22 of the 73 patients (30.1%). Of these 22 culture-positive patients, 11 had sepsis, 6 had IVH infection, 2 had liver abscess, 1 had cholecystitis, 1 had pneumonia, and 1 had decubitus ulcer. Gram-positive bacterial strains were detected most frequently, in 16 of the 24 strains isolated. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences between the groups with and without infectious complications with regard to hepatitis B virus infection, Child-Pugh classification, ascites, esophageal varices, survival rate, total-bilirubin (T-Bil), albumin (Alb), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol (T-chol), and prothrombin time (PT). On multivariate analysis, the Alb level was selected as a significant independent factor contributing to the development of infections. Conclusions: Patients with advanced cirrhosis with low Alb levels should be carefully treated, and the administration of broadspectrum antibiotics covering gram-positive bacteria needs to be considered in the treatment of infections. Received: October 11, 2001 / Accepted: May 31, 2002     

Bacterial infection in patients with advanced cirrhosis: a multicentre prospective study

AIMS: To evaluate the prevalence, incidence and clinical relevance of bacterial infection in predominantly non-alcoholic cirrhotic patients hospitalised for decompensation. PATIENTS/METHODS: A total of 405 consecutive admissions in 361 patients (249 males and 112 females; 66 Child-Pugh class B and 295 class C) were analysed. Blood, urine, ascitic and pleural fluid cultures were performed within the first 24 hours, during hospitalisation whenever infection was suspected, and again before discharge. RESULTS: Over a one year period, 150 (34%) bacterial infections (89 community- and 61 hospital-acquired) involving urinary tract (41%), ascites (23%), blood (21%) and respiratory tract (17%) were diagnosed. The prevalence of bacterial peritonitis was 12%. Infections were asymptomatic in 69 cases (46%) and 130 (87%) involved a single site. Enteric flora accounted for 62% of infections, Escherichia Coli being the most frequent pathogen (25%). Community-acquired infections were associated with more advanced liver disease (Child-Pugh mean score 10.2+/-2.1 versus 9.5+/-1.9, p<0.05), renal failure (p<0.05), and high white blood cell count (p<0.01). Hospital-acquired infections occurred more frequently in patients admitted for gastrointestinal bleeding (p<0.05). The in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in infected than in non-infected patients (15% versus 7%, p<0.05), and infection emerged as an independent variable affecting survival. Moreover bacterial infection accounted for a significantly prolonged hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial infection, regardless of the aetiology, is a severe complication of decompensated cirrhosis, and, although frequently asymptomatic, accounts for both longer hospital stay and increased mortality.     

Bacterial infections in cirrhosis: A critical review and practical guidance

Bacterial infection is common and accounts for major morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis. Patients with cirrhosis are immunocompromised and increased susceptibility to develop spontaneous bacterial infections, hospital-acquired infections, and a variety of infections from uncommon pathogens. Once infection develops, the excessive response of pro-inflammatory cytokines on a pre-existing hemodynamic dysfunction in cirrhosis further predispose the development of serious complications such as shock, acute-on-chronic liver failure, renal failure, and death. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and bacteremia are common in patients with advanced cirrhosis, and are important prognostic landmarks in the natural history of cirrhosis. Notably, the incidence of infections from resistant bacteria has increased significantly in healthcare-associated settings. Serum biomarkers such as procalcitonin may help to improve the diagnosis of bacterial infection. Preventive measures(e.g., avoidance, antibiotic prophylaxis, and vaccination), early recognition, and proper management are required in order to minimize morbidity and mortality of infections in cirrhosis.     

Epidemiological investigation of non-fermentative bacterial infection in cirrhotic patients

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of NFGNB in patients with cirrhosis as well as the risk factors for short-term mortality.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed in patients with cirrhosis and NFGNB infections from 2011 to 2016 .

Results: 144 episodes in 134 patients with liver cirrhosis and NFGNB infections were found in total. Of these, 81.2% were hospital-acquired or healthcare- associated infections, while only 18.8% of NFGNB infections originated from the community. A. baumannii were the most frequently isolated bacteria (39 episodes), followed by S. maltophilia (38 episodes) and P. aeruginosa (31 episodes). MDR- and non-MDR-NFGNB comprised 62.5% and 37.5% of infections respectively. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed no significant difference between MDR and non-MDR NFGNB patients (74.1% vs 75.5%, P = 0.811). Neither MDR or the subgroup of common NFGNB (P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, S. maltophilia) was associated with the 28-day mortality (all P >0.05). Low albumin levels and high Tbil levels were both independent risk factors for 28-day mortality (HR = 0.930, 95%CI (0.869, 0.995), P = 0.035; HR = 1.003, 95%CI (1.002, 1.005), P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: Diabetes increased 28-day mortality significantly, however, MDR status, site of infection and bacteria type did not.     

A multicenter prospective study of infections related morbidity and mortality in cirrhosis of liver

Background and Aims

Infections are a common and serious complication among patients with cirrhosis. We assessed the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical consequences of bacterial infections in cirrhotic patients.

Methods

In this multicenter prospective study, all patients with cirrhosis of liver with different infections were analyzed. Infections were classified as community-acquired (CA), healthcare-associated (HCA), or hospital-acquired (HA). Site of infection and characteristics of bacteria were recorded; effect on liver function and 30-day survival were evaluated.

Results

One hundred and six out of 420 (25 %) patients with cirrhosis of liver had infection. Infection rate among indoor patients was 37.5 % (92/245) and among outdoor patients was 8 % (14/175). Out of 106 patients, CA, HCA, and HA were seen in 19.8 %, 50 %, and 30.2 %, respectively. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (31.1 %), urinary tract infections (22.6 %), and pneumonia and cellulitis (11.3 % each) were common infections. Gram-negative bacteria (54 %) were more common than Gram-positive cocci (46 %). Multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms were seen in 41.7 % of patients. Most of the MDR organisms were seen in HCA and HA patients. The degree of liver impairment was significantly more severe in patients with infection. Independent predictor of infection was high Child-Turcott-Pugh (CTP) class (p?=?0.006, Child B vs. A (odds ratio (OR) 3.04 95 % CI?=?1.63 to 5.68) and Child C vs. A (OR 4.17 95 % CI?=?2.12 to 8.19). Overall in-hospital mortality was 7.6 %. Patients with infection had increased mortality at 30-day follow up compared to those without infection (23.5 % vs. 2.2 %; p<0.001).

Conclusions

Infections are one of the important causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis of liver. The most frequent infections are HCA and HA. Infection predisposes to deterioration of liver function and increases mortality. Cirrhotic patients should be monitored closely for infections especially those with Child class B and C.     

Management of bacterial and fungal infections in end stage liver disease and liver transplantation: Current options and future directions

Patients with liver cirrhosis are susceptible to infections due to various mechanisms, including abnormalities of humoral and cell-mediated immunity and occurrence of bacterial translocation from the intestine. Bacterial infections are common and represent a reason for progression to liver failure and increased mortality. Fungal infections, mainly caused by Candida spp., are often associated to delayed diagnosis and high mortality rates. High level of suspicion along with prompt diagnosis and treatment of infections are warranted. Bacterial and fungal infections negatively affect the outcomes of liver transplant candidates and recipients, causing disease progression among patients on the waiting list and increasing mortality, especially in the early posttransplant period. Abdominal, biliary tract, and bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria [e.g., Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(P. aeruginosa)] and Staphylococcus spp. are commonly encountered in liver transplant recipients. Due to frequent exposure to broad-spectrum antibiotics, invasive procedures, and prolonged hospitalizations, these patients are especially at risk of developing infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. The increase in antimicrobial resistance hampers the choice of an adequate empiric therapy and warrants the knowledge of the local microbial epidemiology and the implementation of infection control measures. The main characteristics and the management of bacterial and fungal infections in patients with liver cirrhosis and liver transplant recipients are presented.     

New determinants of prognosis in bacterial infections in cirrhosis

Despite major advances in the knowledge and management of liver diseases achieved in recent decades, decompensation of cirrhosis still carries a high burden of morbidity and mortality. Bacterial infections are one of the main causes of decompensation. It is very important for clinical management to be aware of the population with the highest risk of poor outcome. This review deals with the new determinants of prognosis in patients with cirrhosis and bacterial infections reported recently. Emergence of multiresistant bacteria has led to an increasing failure rate of the standard empirical antibiotic therapy recommended by international guidelines. Moreover, it has been recently reported that endothelial dysfunction is associated with the degree of liver dysfunction and, in infected patients, with the degree of sepsis. It has also been reported that relative adrenal insufficiency is frequent in the non-critically ill cirrhotic population and it is associated with a higher risk of developing infection, severe sepsis, hepatorenal syndrome and death. We advise a change in the standard empirical antibiotic therapy in patients with high risk for multiresistant infections and also to take into account endothelial and adrenal dysfunction in prognostic models in hospitalized patients with decompensated cirrhosis.     

肝硬化并发细菌感染诊断与治疗研究进展

细菌感染是肝硬化患者常见的并发症,一旦出现感染,病情容易进展为肝衰竭和多器官功能衰竭而死亡。肝硬化并发细菌感染早期不易发现,缺乏敏感性及特异性较高的诊断办法。另外,近年来细菌耐药性的不断增加,使得肝硬化并发细菌感染的发病率及病死率仍处于较高的水平。本文重点介绍了肝硬化患者并发细菌感染的临床类型、细菌谱变化、诊断的难点和目前的治疗策略。     

The impact of different infectious complications on mortality of hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis

Introduction and objectivesBacterial infections are common complications in patients with cirrhosis and are associated with poor prognosis. There are no studies that analyze the impact of different infectious complications in the mortality of these patients, so we aimed to perform this evaluation.Materials and methodsWe performed a case-control study in adult patients with cirrhosis with a follow-up period of one year. We recorded demographic data, prognostic scales, infectious complications and mortality at 30, 90 and 365 days. For the survival analysis, Kaplan–Meyer survival curve was performed and hazard ratios were calculated with 95% confidence intervals by Cox-regression in univariate and multivariate models. For the comparison between groups the Chi squared test, Fisher's exact test and Mann–Whitney U test were performed.ResultsWe included 500 patients. Median age was 58 years, predominant sex was woman (52%) and the most common infections were urinary tract infections (35%), pneumonia (28.2%) and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) (18%). From the patients, 40.4% were CTP score C and median MELD score was 15. In the univariate analysis, infections in general, SBP, pneumonia and central nervous system (CNS) infections had an increased mortality at the three follow up periods, however in the multivariate analysis with the prognostic scales, only pneumonia (HR 2.03, CI 95%[1.06–3.86]) and CNS infections (HR 4.84, CI 95%[1.38–16.93]) remained with increased mortality.ConclusionsSome infectious complications, as pneumonia and CNS infections, increase mortality in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis, regardless of the severity of liver disease.     

National trends and inpatient outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease patients with concomitant chronic liver disease

Abstract

Background. There is little information on the frequency of chronic liver disease among hospitalized patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In this study, we seek to define the common etiologies contributing to chronic liver disease among IBD patients and to identify potential risk factors predictive of increased mortality in this population. Methods. We analyzed the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1988 to 2006 to determine the frequency of chronic liver disease among patients with IBD and to determine their in-hospital outcomes. Results. From 1988 to 2006, the age-adjusted rate of chronic liver disease among hospitalized patients with IBD has increased from 4.35 per 100,000 persons in 1988–2001 to 7.45 per 100,000 persons in 2004–2006. The most common etiologies contributing to chronic liver disease among IBD patients were: primary sclerosing cholangitis, unspecified chronic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis C, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Compared to IBD patients without liver disease, there was more than a twofold higher rate of inpatient morality among IBD patients with concomitant liver disease (2.7% vs. 1.3%, p < 0.01). The multivariate analysis showed that factors predictive of inpatient mortality include age >50, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, presence of cirrhosis, malnutrition, Clostridium difficile colitis, and hospital-acquired pneumonia. Conclusion. There is a higher rate of inpatient mortality among patients with concomitant IBD and chronic liver disease compared to IBD alone. Early recognition and management of complications related to portal hypertension among patients with IBD and chronic liver disease is particularly important in order to reduce inpatient mortality and morbidity.     

重型肝炎及活动性失代偿期肝硬化并发霉菌感染的临床特征分析

目的研究重型肝炎及活动性失代偿期肝硬化患者并发霉菌感染的临床特点。方法对79例重型肝炎及活动性失代偿期肝硬化并发霉菌感染患者进行研究,并以221例重型肝炎及活动性失代偿期肝硬化并发白色念珠菌感染患者作为对照,进行统计分析。结果79例重型肝炎及活动性失代偿期肝硬化合并霉菌感染患者中,医院感染72例（91．1％）,院外感染7例（8．9％）。临床诊断急性、亚急性重型肝炎2例,慢性重型肝炎53例,活动性失代偿期肝硬化24例。经治疗好转18例（22．78％）,无效25例（31．65％）,死亡36例（45．57％）。在霉菌感染发生前,有47例临床诊断细菌感染,并分离出G-杆菌18株（60．0％）、G^＋菌8株（26．67％）。感染部位以腹腔居多,其次是肺、血液等。分别有65例和44例患者曾使用抗生素及激素。霉菌感染以曲霉菌为主,感染部位多见于肺部（64．65％）,予抗真菌药物后有效24例（30．38％）,无效55例（69．62％）。结论重型肝炎及活动性失代偿期肝硬化并发霉菌感染患者以医院感染为主,抗霉菌治疗疗效差,病死率高。     

Spontaneous bacterial and fungal peritonitis in patients with liver cirrhosis: A literature review

Spontaneous bacterial(SBP) and spontaneous fungal peritonitis(SFP) can be a life-threatening infection in patients with liver cirrhosis(LC) and ascites. One of the possible mechanisms of developing SBP is bacterial translocation. Although the number of polymorphonuclear cells in the culture of ascitic fluid is diagnostic for SBP, secondary bacterial peritonitis is necessary to exclude. The severity of underlying liver dysfunction is predictive of developing SBP; moreover, renal impairment and infections caused by multidrug-resistant(MDR) organism are associated with a fatal prognosis of SBP. SBP is treated by antimicrobials, but initial empirical treatment may not succeed because of the presence of MDR organisms, particularly in nosocomial infections. Antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended for patients with LC at a high risk of developing SBP, gastrointestinal bleeding, or a previous episode of SBP, but the increase in the risk of developing an infection caused by MDR organisms is a serious concern globally. Less is known about SFP in patients with LC, but the severity of underlying liver dysfunction may increase the hospital mortality. SFP mortality has been reported to be higher than that of SBP partially because the difficulty of early differentiation between SFP and SBP induces delayed antifungal therapy for SFP.     

Infección nosocomial en el paciente receptor de un trasplante de órgano sólido o de precursores hematopoyéticos

Bacterial infections are the most common infections in solid organ transplant recipients. These infections occur mainly in the first month after transplantation and are hospital-acquired. Nosocomial infections cause significant morbidity and are the most common cause of mortality in this early period of transplantation. These infections are caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) microorganisms, mainly Gram-negative enterobacteria, non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli, enterococci, and staphylococci. The patients at risk of developing nosocomial bacterial infections are those previously colonized with MDR bacteria while on the transplant waiting list. Intravascular catheters, the urinary tract, the lungs, and surgical wounds are the most frequent sources of infection. Preventive measures are the same as those applied in non-immunocompromised, hospitalized patients except in patients at high risk for developing fungal infection. These patients need antifungal therapy during their hospitalization, and for preventing some bacterial infections in the early transplant period, patients need vaccinations on the waiting list according to the current recommendations. Although morbidity and mortality related to infectious diseases have decreased during the last few years in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, they are still one of the most important complications in this population. Furthermore, as occurs in the general population, the incidence of nosocomial infections has increased during the different phases of transplantation. It is difficult to establish general preventive measures in these patients, as there are many risk factors conditioning these infections. Firstly, they undergo multiple antibiotic treatments and interventions; secondly, there is a wide variability in the degree of neutropenia and immunosuppression among patients, and finally they combine hospital and home stay during the transplant process. However, some simple measures could be implemented to improve the current situation.     

Infections developing in patients undergoing liver transplantation: Recipients of living donors may be more prone to bacterial/fungal infections

Background/AimsDespite surgical advances in liver transplantation and effective prophylactic strategies, posttransplant infections are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis and management of infections because of developing immunosuppression is difficult and adversely affects mortality. This study aimed to review bacterial and fungal infections in patients after liver transplantation and to reveal the resistance rates.Materials and MethodsA total of 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation between January 2017 and February 2018 were evaluated retrospectively with regard to demographic characteristics, causes of transplantation, conditions that may lead to infection, postoperative infections, pathogens, and resistance patterns.ResultsOf the 107 patients who underwent liver transplantation, 48 (44.8%) had an infection. Bacterial infections were detected in 41% of the patients, and fungal infections were found in 13%. When we compared living and cadaveric transplants in terms of infection development, these rates were found to be 53% and 33%, respectively (p=0.034). No statistically significant results could be obtained when evaluating conditions such as sex, presence of underlying primary disease, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease MELD score, diabetes status, total parenteral nutrition, and risk factors for infection.ConclusionAfter liver transplantation, infections are often seen in the first month of the postoperative period. Knowing the most common pathogens and resistance states in this process reduces infection-related deaths by providing appropriate treatment regimens at the right time.     

Clostridioides difficile infection in liver cirrhosis patients: A population-based study in United States

BACKGROUNDClostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) is an increasingly frequent cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Multiple risk factors are documented in the literature that includes, but are not limited to, antibiotics use, advanced age, and gastric acid suppression. Several epidemiological studies have reported an increased incidence of CDI in advanced liver disease patients. Some have also demonstrated a higher prevalence of nosocomial infections in cirrhotic patients. AIMTo use a large nationwide database, we sought to determine CDI’s risk among liver cirrhosis patients in the United States.METHODSWe queried a commercial database (Explorys Inc^TM, Cleveland, OH, United States), and obtained an aggregate of electronic health record data from 26 major integrated United States healthcare systems comprising 360 hospitals in the United States from 2018 to 2021. Diagnoses were organized into the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED–CT) hierarchy. Statistical analysis for the multivariable model was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 25, IBM Corp^TM). For all analyses, a two-sided P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTSThere were a total of 19387760 patients in the database who were above 20 years of age between the years 2018-2021. Of those, 133400 were diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. The prevalence of CDI amongst the liver cirrhosis population was 134.93 per 100.000 vs 19.06 per 100.000 in non-cirrhotic patients (P < 0.0001). The multivariate analysis model uncovered that cirrhotic patients were more likely to develop CDI (OR: 1.857; 95%CI: 1.665-2.113, P < 0.0001) compared to those without any prior history of liver cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONIn this large database study, we uncovered that cirrhotic patients have a significantly higher CDI prevalence than those without cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis may be an independent risk factor for CDI. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify this possible risk association that may lead to the implementation of screening methods in this high-risk population.     

Bacteremia in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

ABSTRACT— Infections are frequent in patients with liver cirrhosis, as their defenses against infectious agents are altered. But bacteremia occurring in cirrhotic patients has seldom been reported in the literature. From 1981 to 1986, we collected 197 cases with 228 episodes of bacteremia for this retrospective study. The incidence of bacteremia in cirrhotic patients was 8.8%; no significant difference was noted between cirrhotic patients with variant etiologies of HBV(+), HBV(–) and alcohol. But the incidence increased with the severity of the disease (1%, 4.8%, 17.1% in Child's A, B, C groups, respectively). Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant microorganisms of bacteremia (75.6%). Among them, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Aeromonas hydrophilia were the three most commonly detected microorganisms. Gram-positive bacterias were detected in 21.2% of patients with bacteremia, with predominance of the Streptococcus group and Staphylococcus aureus. In about 26.3% of cases the infectious sources were the same by bacteria cultures as from blood. The most common sources were spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, urinary tract infection, pneumonia and biliary tree infection. In cirrhotic patients with and without bacteremia, the mortality rate increased significantly in the bacteremia group (54.8% vs 23.2%, P<0.05). By Child's classification, the mortality of patients with classes B and C increased significantly after onset of bacteremia. There was no significant difference in mortality between bacteremic patients in the HBV(+), HBV(–) and alcohol groups. In conclusion, bacteremia is a severe complication of liver cirrhosis and a sign of a poor prognosis.     

肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症54例临床特点及转归

目的加强对肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症的认识,分析肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症的临床特点、危险因素及转归。方法回顾性分析肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症的临床资料,分析其临床特征及其预后,比较54例肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症与同期住院的发生感染但未出现胆汁淤积症（对照组）126例肝硬化患者在年龄、性别、Child-Pugh分级、早期及时经验性抗菌药物应用的差异。结果 54例肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症的感染部位：腹腔感染（自发性细菌性腹膜炎,SBP）20例、尿路感染18例、胆道感染6例、肠道感染4例、肺部感染4例、部位不明确2例,根据Child-Pugh分级约有55.56%的患者为Child C级。两组比较,年龄、Child-Pugh分级、早期及时经验性应用抗菌药物等,差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;观察组中病死率15.00%,高于对照组的4.36%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论肝硬化患者并发感染相关性胆汁淤积症对预后有不良影响,尤其合并有肝肾综合征者病死率较高,应高度重视临床及实验诊断,针对其临床特征实施相应措施。     

Ascites: Aetiology,mortality and the prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

Objective. To assess the aetiology, prognosis and prevalence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients hospitalized for ascites. The validity of an elevated (>11 g/l) serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) in the diagnostic work-up was evaluated. Mortality trends were observed over two periods of time. Material and methods. A total of 231 consecutive patients who underwent diagnostic paracentesis between February 1994 and December 1998 and January 2005 and March 2007 were included in the study. The definition of SBP comprised polymorphonuclear cell count >250/mm³ without evidence of other intra-abdominal source of infection. SAAG was obtained and the Child-Pugh classification applied. Survival rates were obtained from medical records. Results. The most common causes of ascites were alcohol liver cirrhosis (n=143; 62%), malignancy (n=30; 13%), non-alcoholic cirrhosis (n=11; 5%) and malignancy with cirrhosis (n=11; 5%). The prevalence of SBP in cirrhosis was 6.7% (95% CI 2.8–10.5%). Overall mortality rates at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year were 22%, 40% and 48%, respectively, and remained unchanged between the intervals. Patients with grade C liver disease had higher 1-month (26% versus 6%), and 6-month (44% versus 27%) mortality rates than grade B patients, but commensurate 1-year mortality (49% versus 47%). SAAG was ≥11 g/l in 85% of patients with obvious portal hypertension and in 30% with malignancy, ascites albumin level ≤9 g/l in 69% and 20%, respectively. Conclusions. Mortality in patients with ascites was high. The occurrence of SBP was relatively low in our series, with a high proportion of alcoholic cirrhosis. SAAG was inaccurate in differentiating ascites caused by portal hypertension or malignancy.