Bacteremia in patients suffering from cirrhosis.
In a five-year retrospective study, there were 57 episodes of bacteremia among 1623 admissions (3.5%) of patients suffering from cirrhosis. Gram-positive bacteria were found in 70% of the episodes, gram-negative bacteria in 30%. All of the gram-positive bacteria found were fully sensitive to methicillin and to gentamicin. The gram-negative bacteria found were all sensitive to gentamicin, but only 50% were sensitive to ampicillin. The distribution between gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was the same, irrespective of whether the patients acquired the infection inside or outside the hospital. More than 50% of the patients suffered from one or more of the following complications of cirrhosis: ascites, encephalopathy and haematemesis. Twenty-one patients died within seven days after the bacteremia was diagnosed. Bacteremia is a serious complication of advanced cirrhosis, and it is recommended that adequate antibiotic treatment is started when septicemia is suspected.
Almdal
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T
Skinhøj
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P
Friis
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H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality