Abstract

ELIZONDO, Martín et al. Spontaneous infections in cirrhotic patients: clinical and microbiological characteristics in a bi-institutional cohort from Uruguay. Rev. Urug. Med. Int. [online]. 2021, vol.6, n.1, pp.45-53.  Epub Mar 01, 2021. ISSN 2393-6797.  https://doi.org/10.26445/06.01.5.

Hospitalized cirrhotic patients present with a high prevalence of bacterial infections. Among them, spontaneous cirrhotic infections include spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, spontaneous bacteremia and spontaneous bacterial empyema, which constitute a particular group, with a high risk of complications and mortality. The work above aims to describe and characterize the spontaneous infections in the cirrhotic, the prevalent microbiology and its resistance profile, in 2 healthcare centers in Montevideo-Uruguay. A multicenter, descriptive, cross-sectional study was held, including hospitalized patients with liver cirrhosis, between March 2018 - March 2019. 25 (16%) of the 156 patients admitted with cirrhosis developed a spontaneous cirrhotic infection. 24 (96%) of these patients were in an advanced stage of their disease, (Child-Pugh B-C, MELD＞15). The most frequent presentation was the spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (52%), followed by the spontaneous bacteremia (40%) and the spontaneous bacterial empyema (8%). Microbiological isolation was possible in 17 cases (68%), of which 12 (70%) developed gram negative bacilli, 4 (24%) gram positive bacilli and 1 case Candida. 3 ESBL producing strains were identified, (2 K. pneumoniae and 1 E. coli), and other 4 microorganisms with different antibiotic resistance profile (2 E. faecalis, 1 K. oxytoca, 1 E. cloacae). The prevalence of multiresistant microorganisms was 41%, all of nosocomial acquisition. Research on this topic may provide more knowledge about the local epidemiology, improving the empiric treatments, targeting the most prevalent microorganisms, in order to better approach the infections in cirrhotic patients.

Keywords : Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis; spontaneous bacteremia; spontaneous bacterial empyema; cirrhosis.

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