title: Quantitative assessment of severity of biliary tract infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is very important for physicians to evaluate the severity of the biliary infection. At the moment, there is no useful quantitative system. In this study, we propose a scoring system for assessing the severity of biliary infections and evaluation of the efficacy of antibacterial and endoscopic treatments.
  
  
  METHODS
  We created a biliary tract infection score (BTIS) including local physical and ultrasound findings, signs of inflammation and hepatobiliary involvement. The BTIS was calculated in 317 patients: group I-155 pts with cholecystitis and cholangitis, treated only by antibiotics and group II-162 pts with acute cholangitis treated by endoscopic procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The BTIS allowed the differentiation of the severity of biliary infections: 15.50 +/- 0.52 in acute cholangitis group and 5.77 +/- 2.79 in group I (p < 0.001). The BTIS significantly decreased after antibacterial therapy (excluding only the cefotiam subgroup) and in endoscopicaly treated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BTIS is a combination of simple, reliable, acceptable and low cost parameters, reflecting the principal pathological processes and degree of abnormalities. A BTIS facilitated the assessment of severity of biliary infection and comparison of the results of various methods of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Gastroenterology, St.I. Rilski University Hospital, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krastev
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vladimirov
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mateva
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexiev
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D002764:Cholecystitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016717:Sphincterotomy, Endoscopic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents