Comparison of bacterial infection rate between patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and viral liver cirrhosis / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Some studies have reported that bacterial infection is more common in alcoholic compared to non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis such as viral liver cirrhosis. However, other studies reported no significant differences in the bacterial infection rate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. This study was performed to compare the frequency of bacterial infection between alcoholic and viral liver cirrhosis. METHODS: We analyzed 190 cirrhotic patients (alcoholic 83, viral 107) with 539 hospitalized cases (alcoholic 242, viral 297) who were followed for more than 12 months. RESULTS: During the follow up period, 82 patients (43.2%) presented with bacterial infectionsthat developed in 34 (41.0%) patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 48 (44.9%) patients with viral liver cirrhosis. There was no significant difference in the frequency of bacterial infection including community acquired and nosocomial infection between alcoholic and viral cirrhotic patients regarding the Child-Pugh class, various laboratory parameters and site of infection. Gram-negative and enteric bacterial strains were the most frequently isolated pathogens in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference in the frequency of infection between patients with alcoholic and viral liver cirrhosis. Further efforts are needed to reduce bacterial infection by gram negative and enteric bacteria in patients with both alcoholic and viral cirrhosis.