The choice of antibiotic therapy for bacterial infections in patients with cirrhosis of the liver

Patients with liver cirrhosis have an impaired function of reticuloendothelial system; moreover they exhibit several defects of cellular and humoral immunity. These deficiencies enhance their susceptibility to bacterial infections. The prognosis is better if the infection is detected as early as possible and treated adequately. Except in cases of septicemia, empirical monotherapy is effective. Broad-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics have proved efficient for the treatment of severe infections; a limitation of third-generation cephalosporins is their ineffectiveness against Enterococci; the acylureidopenicillins may be a good choice since they are active against Enterococci and most enteric, pulmonary and urinary pathogens, including Escherichia coli and Streptococcus pneumoniae which are the pathogens most frequently isolated from cirrhotic patients with severe infection. Similarly, the combination of a beta-lactamase inhibitor with a penicillin may offer an adequate antibacterial spectrum. Piperacillin, like other beta-lactam antibiotics, can induce leukopenia in patients with cirrhosis; the more severe the hepatic dysfunction, the greater the risk; a reduction in dosages is necessary. Meropenem monotherapy is effective and safe for the initial therapeutic regimen of bacterial infection. The fluoroquinolones may be useful for the treatment of infections in liver cirrhosis; however, the marginal activity against S. pneumoniae is a drawback. Oral long-term fluoroquinolone administration is utilized for the prevention of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis recurrence; selective intestinal decontamination with fluoroquinolones is useful in preventing bacterial infections in cirrhosis with gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Given the high risk of nephrotoxicity due to aminoglycosides in liver cirrhosis, these antibiotics should be used only in cases of severe infection with septicemia, in which beta-lactam-aminoglycoside combination is indicated for rapid bactericidal effect and enhanced killing afforded by synergism. Perhaps a short course (no more than 3 days) and a once-daily schedule of administration would minimize the risk of aminoglycoside-induced nephrotoxicity.