Infectious Complications in Critically Ill Liver Failure Patients

Amanda Cheung, Sajal Tanna, Michael G. Ison*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with liver failure. A number of factors, including relative immune dysfunction and systemic inflammation, bacterial translocation, gut dysbiosis, small intestine bacterial overgrowth, altered bile acid pools, and changes in pH due to acid suppression, contribute to the high rates of infection in this population. Though a range of infections can complicate the course of cirrhotic patients, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP), cholangitis, and cholecystitis in addition to other infections (i.e. pneumonia, urinary tract infection, bacteremia, and Clostridioides difficile colitis) are more common in this population and will be reviewed in this article. Preventative strategies are directed at minimizing the risk of SBP through the use of targeted antimicrobial prophylaxis. Lastly, the critically ill cirrhotic patient may present with an acute need for liver transplantation. Thus, careful assessment for ongoing infection should be performed and treated to optimize outcomes of transplant, if needed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)578-587
Number of pages10
JournalSeminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Volume39
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2018

Keywords

  • UTI
  • bacteremia and C. difficile colitis
  • cholangitis
  • cholecystitis
  • cirrhosis
  • pneumonia
  • spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
  • Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Infectious Complications in Critically Ill Liver Failure Patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this