Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2014 Volume 142, Issue 9-10, Pages: 551-556
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1410551M
Full text ( 209 KB)
Cited by
Bacterial infections in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites
Marković-Živković Bojana (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Bjelaković Goran (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Nagorni Aleksandar (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Benedeto-Stojanov Daniela (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Petrović Bratislav (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Radisavljević Mirjana (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Petrović Gordana (Clinical Center Niš, Clinic of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Niš)
Introduction. Bacterial infections are common complications and the cause of
death in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. There is no standard method for
a rapid and low-cost diagnosis, and its prognosis is poor. Objective. The aim
of this study was to determine the etiology and frequency of bacterial
infections in patients with liver cirrhosis of different etiology, and the
influence of bacterial infections on the prognosis in patients with liver
cirrhosis and ascites. Methods. Sixty-four patients with cirrhosis and
ascites were included in the study. The diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial
peritonitis was established based on the diagnostic abdominal paracentesis
and the results of biochemical, cytological and microbiologic analysis of
ascitic fluid. The diagnosis of urinary infection and pneumonia were made
according to the standard criteria. Results. Spontaneous bacterial
peritonitis was diagnosed in 23 (35.9%) patients, urinary infections in 16
(25%) and pneumonia in 11 (17.2%). Gram positive and gram negative bacteria
in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were etiologically almost equally
represented (52%; 48%). The most frequent causes were Escherichia coli and
Staphylococcus aureus. In 81% of patients urinary infections were caused by
gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli in 44%). The most frequent cause of
pneumonia was Streptococcus pneumoniae (46%). Conclusion. Spontaneous
bacterial peritonitis, urinary infections and bronchopneumonia are the most
frequent bacterial infections in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites. A
timely recognition of bacterial infections and the initiation of treatment
have a positive effect on the prognosis of such patients.
Keywords: liver cirrhosis, bacterial infections, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis