Review
Copyright ©2012 Baishideng Publishing Group Co.
World J Hepatol. May 27, 2012; 4(5): 158-168
Published online May 27, 2012. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v4.i5.158
Table 2 Individual pathogens and their clinical manifestations in cirrhotic patients
PathogensCommon clinical featuresKey points
E.coli, Klebsiella spp. Enterobacter spp. and other gram-negative enteric bacteria[6,7,9,12,13]SBP, bacteremia, UTI, biliary tract infection, meningitis↑ Incidence of resistant organisms in hospital-acquired infection and in patients taking prophylactic quinolones
Plesiomonas shigelloides [10,81,99]Septicemia, diarrhea, SBP, meningitis, SSTI↑ Incidence in hemochromatosis Risk factors: contaminated food and water
Vibrio spp. (V. vulnificus, non-o1 V. cholera, V. parahemolyticus)[10,42,43,57,81]SSTI, bacteremia, gastroenteritis↑ Incidence in cirrhosis, particularly hemochromatosis ↑ Virulence; mortality 50%-60% in bacteremic form and about 24% for SSTI Risk factors: contaminated food and seawater
Aeromonas spp. (A. hydrophilla, A. sobria)[44,45,67,70-72]Bacteremia, biliary tract infection, gastroenteritis, SBP, SSTI↑ Incidence ↑ Virulence; mortality 20%-60% Risk factors: contaminated food and water
Yersinia spp. (Y. enterocolitica, Y. pseodotuberculosis)[10,81]Bacteremia, SBP, hepatosplenic abscesses↑ Incidence in hemochromatosis ↑ Virulence; mortality about 50% in bacteremic form
Campylobacter spp. (C. jejuni, C. fetus)[10,100]Bacteremia, SBP↑ Incidence Mortality about 10% in bacteremic form
Pateurella multocida[13,101,102]SSTI, bacteremia, arthritis, meningitis↑ Incidence Mortality about 10% in bacteremic form Risk factors: cat and dog bites or scratches
Staphylocccus aureus[7,11,13]Bacteremia, SSTI, endocarditis↑ Incidence, particularly in those who are hospitalized and/or had invasive procedure ↑ Incidence of MRSA carriage and infection
Streptococcus pneumonia[94,95]Bacteremia, pneumonia, SBP, SSTI, meningitis↑ Incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease ↑ Virulence Vaccination is recommended
Streptococcus group B[103,104]Bacteremia, SBP, SSTI, pneumonia↑ Incidence Mortality 10%-25%
Clostridium difficile[80]Antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis↑ Incidence ↑ Virulence; mortality 14% Risk factors: hospitalization, antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors
Clostridium spp. (C. perfringens, C. bifermentans, C. septicum)[13,105]Bacteremia, SSTI, peritonitis↑ Incidence ↑ Virulence; mortality 54%-65%
Enterococcus spp (E. faecium, E. faecalis, E. galinarum)[7,11,59,106-109]SBP, bacteremia, UTI, endocarditis, biliary tract infection↑ Incidence, particularly in hospital-acquired infection and in patients taking prophylactic quinolones ↑ Virulence; mortality rate up to one third in bacteremic form and up to 60% in enterococcal peritonitis Pre-transplant VRE colonization (13%-15% from surveillance) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following liver transplant
Listeria monocytogenes[10,64,81]Bacteremia, meningitis, SBP↑ Incidence in cirrhosis, particularly hemochromatosis
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB)[73,74,77]Pulmonary TB, extra-pulmonary TB (e.g. peritonitis, disseminated TB)↑ Incidence ↑ Virulence; mortality 22%-48% ↑ Extra-pulmonary forms ↑ Risk for multi-drug resistance TB ↑ Risk for anti-TB hepatotoxicity