Tiribelli C

Language: English
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1) Strauss et al: Bacterial Infections Associated with .....

The presence of infection in patients with chronic liver disease is long known to be an unfavorable prognostic sign. The same holds true for hepatic encephalopathy. In this study the group of Strauss revises a large series of patients with encephalopathy observed over a period of 15 years and provides clinically relevant information on the prevalence and clinical significance of infection in these patients. Over 10 years the incidence of infections (mainly spontaneous bacterial peritonitis) halved, most probably due to effective treatment. Also relevant was the observation that this reduction was associated with a significant reduction (about 50%) of mortality. Most important was the observation that early mortality during hospitalization doubled in infected patients. The study confirms and stresses the need for a careful screening of infection in each patient and appropriate treatment in case of positivity.